The terrace at the west side (rear) of the Second Court is decorated with scenes of Rameses III offering to various deities and taking part in the rituals of his coronation. Of particular importance is the procession of royal sons and daughters.

 Unlike the processions of princes and princesses in the Ramesseum, on which these scenes were modeled, no names were written beside the figures. The ancient scribe left the spaces blank. Apparently the names that can be seen today were added later by the princes themselves when they became Rameside rulers, notably Rameses IV, VI, VII, and VIII.

Some Egyptologists think this is because Rameses III died before he could issue instructions as to which son’s names were to be included. Each of the princes stands before a deeply cut cartouche of his father. The first four sons wear more elaborate costumes than the others and have a uraeus on their foreheads, probably because they were first in the line of royal succession.

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