I have been to the medinet Habu many times and love it but what part does it play in the creation of the world? How did it come to be the 'centre' of life? If it was considered so important why did it not get to be the size of Karnak?

Hello Mut, I have not heard this phrase before, but from the 20th dynasty there was a rejuvination festival carried on at Medinet Habu on behalf of the king which implied the death and rebirth of the land thought to be connected to the kings symbolic death and rebirth.

At some stage during the festival the king would cut a sheaf of wheat symbolising the death of the wheat at harvest. Meanwhile the Queen, a personification of Isis, would parade around uttering spells and incantations to ensure her husbands rebirth. A white bull would be sacrificed, which symbolised the death of the king, its ears would be presented to the king and the tail would be paraded around to show to the people probably as a symbol of rebirth.

A sacred marriage ceremony would then be carried out by the king and queen with the king taking the part of Min and the queen as Isis, or maybe Hathor. At some point 4 birds would be released to carry the good news to the four points of the compass, and it may be from this that Habu became known as the center of life for this is where the rebirth ceremony of the king (and the land) took place. (at least during the time of Ramasses III 20th dynasty)

Hope this answers your question Mut Horus

What about the Ogdoad?

The Ogdoad consists of a total of 8 deities. It was originally a Hermopolitan idea which eventually became accepted throughout all Egypt.

In relation to Luxor, the Ogdoad was important specifically to Habu Temple. It was here at the Temple of Medinet Habu (Western Thebes) which was regarded as the burial place of the eight primordial deities. During the Ptolemaic times, or the Graeco-Roman period, the Kings of Egypt would come to Medinet Habu to honour their primeval ancestors in every ten-year period.

I read an article that said that there was an egg laid there.

Yes, it was known as the world egg, symbolised by the ben ben stone and later as the obelisk.

We have a very good article in our Ancient Egypt section if anyone is interested in Medinet Habu Temple. At one time, it was one of the most famous places on earth, and very few people who come to Habu actually realize the importance of the temple and the Palace of Malqata that lies just south of it.

Malqata is often overlooked by the tourist as there really is very little to see there nowadays, but in the time of Amenhotep III it was literally the center of the ancient world where merchandise was made to the highest quality of craftsmanship and shipped out around the ancient world to all the richest and most powerful people on the planet.

If you are visiting Luxor, do read our article on Malqata, and try and imagine all the sailing boats coming to and from Birket Habu, the canal and port dug out from the Nile on the instructions of Amenhotep III to cater for all the trade in and out of the area and bringing envoys and important embassadors from all over the ancient world. Although only a ruin now, how they must have marvelled as they sailed past Amenhotep's mortuary Temple (The Colossi of Memnon is virtually all that remains today) which was the largest and most magnificent of its kind ever built. How they must have been in awe to be granted an audience with the richest king that Egypt has ever fathered.

There are some wonderful old photos of the Medinet Habu on the main site.

http://www.ancientluxor.com/photo-luxor ... -habu.html