Chapel of Augustus

Luxor, Egypt (plan)

We close with this chapel from the southern end of the temple. During the time of Diocletian (ca. 300 AD), Luxor temple was enclosed within a Roman fort, and this room was repurposed to the Imperial cult of Caesar Augustus and custody of the Legionary standards. The chapel was later converted into a church. Its exedra, fronted by two columns bearing composite capitals, is a typical Roman arch and niche construction. Inside is a Roman mural (photo) that intrudes into the original Amenhotep III reliefs; Amenhotep's cartouches are visible in the middle right of the mural photo.