Mortuary Temple of Seti I

Delicately painted mortuary temple of Seti I at Qurna, quieter than most West Bank sites

The Mortuary Temple of Seti I stands near the edge of the cultivation on the West Bank, backed by the cliffs that separate the agricultural land from the necropolis. It is less famous and less visited than Hatshepsut's temple or Medinet Habu, which makes it one of the more rewarding places on the West Bank for travellers who want something quieter and more contemplative.

The reliefs inside are among the finest of the New Kingdom period — delicate and precise in a way that differs from the bombastic battle scenes that Ramses II preferred. The astronomical ceiling in the hypostyle hall, painted with figures representing constellations, is particularly worth finding. The temple garden is pleasant in the early morning, with the cliffs behind and the Nile plain in front. Combine this with the nearby Colosseum of Memnon, which is only ten minutes' walk away.

things to do sight
A story
Seti I is the pharaoh whose tomb in the Valley of the Kings is the largest and most beautifully decorated — his mortuary temple is correspondingly less visited, which makes it something of a secret among Luxor regulars. The temple was completed after Seti's death by his son Ramses II, who characteristically added battle reliefs and cartouches celebrating himself wherever he found spare wall space.