Thebes was a historic capital of Egypt. The city stood on both sides of the Nile River in Upper Egypt.
Thebes became most famous during Egypt’s New Kingdom period, from 1550 to 1069 BC. During this time, it served as the main political, religious, and cultural center of the nation.
By the 600s BC, Thebes was no longer Egypt’s capital. Even so, it remained a large and active city.