Immediately behind the First Pylon, the Great Court measures 57 meters (185 feet) deep and 51 meters (166 feet) wide. This is a peristyle court, with a double row of 74 columns around its four sides supporting a narrow roof around its perimeter.

The northeastern (left front) quadrant of the court is unexcavated; a deep layer of debris and the remains of an early Christian church lie beneath the mosque and tomb of Abu-el-Haggag. The minaret of this mosque was erected in the 13th century, and the mosque is so important a monument in its own right that it is unlikely this area will ever be cleared to its dynastic levels.

The walls of the court are decorated with scenes of the king censing, making offerings with chanting priests, and of Thoth recording gifts. The most interesting scenes are on walls in the southwest (right rear) corner of the court. Here, on the west (right) wall, a collection of beautifully garlanded bulls is led to the temple for sacrifice. Walking in the procession before them, on the south (rear) wall, seventeen sons of Rameses II approach the temple. Their names and titles are given beside each figure, and the sons appear in birth order, the oldest (Amenherkhepshef) standing first at left. Before them is a finely drawn representation of the First Pylon of Luxor Temple that shows it with flags flying, obelisks and statues clearly and accurately depicted.

In the southeast (left rear) corner of the court, an imposing statue of Rameses II and Queen Nefertari is one of several originally carved for Amenhetep III and usurped by Rameses II. This one shows the king powerfully and confidently striding forward, the ideal well-muscled and perennially youthful ruler.

Equally well-carved seated statues of the king flank the door into the next room. In the northwest (right front) corner of the court stands a small Triple-Shrine of the Theban Triad, Amen, Mut, and Khonsu. Originally  built by Hatshepsut and usurped by Thutmes III and then by Rameses II, four graceful papyrus-columns stand on its portico. The three shrines belong (left to right) to Mut, Amen, and Khonsu. In each, the king kneels before the god. Scenes of sacred barks cover the walls. The building was the southernmost of the bark shrines used in processions between Karnak and Luxor temples and played an important role in the ceremony. It may originally have stood in a more central position near the entrance of the temple, then moved here by Rameses II.

From" The Illustrated Guide to Luxor" by kent R.Weeks ,published by the American University in Cairo Press. Copyright © 2005 White Star S.p.a