The Oriental Institute at University of Chicago

Archaeologists and conservators are facing a critical issue in cultural heritage management; the sustainability of heritage and its display and presentation in the face of changes constantly affecting the historic environment and its modern inhabitants.

By focusing on Luxor Temple its rediscovery in the 19^th century and transformation into a tourist venue, it becomes clear that modern Luxor owes much to the transformation into a tourist venue, it becomes clear that modern Luxor owes much to the transformation of the temple into the core of a Roman legionary fortress during the reign of Emperor Diocletian around the year AD 300.

 In 2003, the American Research Center in Egypt, in collaboration with Chicago House, began an integrated project to clean and conserve the remaining murals decorating the imperial chamber at the heart of the 18^th Dynasty Luxor Temple. Revealing the high quality of the paintings themselves, this project also offers the chance to see them in the context of the political developments of their time.