David Matthew Klotz

This project surveys the numerous processional pathways connecting the temples of ancient Thebes (modern day Luxor). While the existence of such routes is known from architectural remains from the temples, pictorial representations, inscriptions describing religious festivals, and documentary papyri, no systematic survey has ever been conducted on the ground of all land routes between Theban temples. Tracking these roads, some of which are partially beneath the modern city, and producing an accurate map is a the first step towards reconstructing the complex religious landscape of Luxor and may also discover remains of bark stations, shrines used to house the divine statues during intermediate stops, and votive stelae, often placed along such routes.