Discover Luxor Attractions and best Places to Visit,Luxor is a city of many names. The ancient Egyptians called it West, meaning the City of the Sceptre. When the Greeks came, they called it Thebes. Today it is the modern city of Luxor, from the Arabic al-ʾuqṣur (الأقصر) meaning "the palaces". This enchanting city is located right along the great Nile.