Luxor is famous for being the worlds greatest open-air museum, with ancient tombs and temples scattered along the east and west bank of the Nile River. It was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom and the city of Amun, later to become the god Amun-Ra. Luxor was the ancient city of Thebes, which was the capital of Egypt from 1570 to 1069 BCE and an important center of worship of the god Amun. The city is home to many ancient Egyptian monuments, including the Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple Complex, the necropolises of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, and the massive stone statues known as the Colossi of Menmon. Luxor is also known for its high social status, luxury, and as a center for wisdom, art, religious and political hierarchy. Today, Luxor is an important tourism center and a market town for the surrounding agricultural district.