Luxor, Egypt

Luxor lies amid what is arguably one of the world's largest archaeological sites: Thebes, once a thriving imperial capital. In antiquity, the Nile River ran through Thebes, dividing it into a "City of the Living" and a "City of the Dead." The former referred to the east bank (modern-day Luxor) as this was where the majority of the city's population-and at times, Egypt's rulers-made their home. The west bank (known today as Kurna) was designated the latter as it served as a necropolis, dotted with the lavish resting places of royalty and other nobility. New findings continue to surface here, reinforcing what we have long come to recognize: the remarkable ingenuity of ancient Egyptian civilization.Read more