A huge complex of religious buildings in the northern part of Thebes, the ancient capital of Upper Egypt (modern Luxor), with a great temple to Amen (Amon) and a series of subsidiary structures. Recent excavations indicate that occupation began in the Gerzean period (c 3200 BC), when a small settlement was founded on the eastern bank of the Nile floodplain. The village has given its name to the northern half of the ruins of Thebes. There is a smaller complex of the goddess Mut, consort of Amen (it was built largely by Amenhotep III, whose architect was commemorated by statues in the temple), and one to the god Montu/Mont, predecessor of Amen. Between these two precincts lay the largest of all Egyptian temples, and one of the largest in the world, the great temple of the state god, Amen (Amon-Re). It is a complex of temples, added to and altered at many periods. A series of processional gateways link the temple with that of Mut to the south, and further, by way of the avenue of sphinxes, with the temple at Luxor 2 miles (3 km) away.