The pylon, or temple gateway, and the first big court at Luxor Temple were built during the reign of King Ramesses the Second as northern additions to the earlier temple of King Amenhotep the Third.

The pylon is 65 meters or 213 feet wide and has a staircase the same thickness as the eastern tower. The staircase leads to the top of both of its two towers.

The outer face contains four vertical recesses for the flagstaffs that were raised on feast days. Four square openings above the recesses were made to receive the braces that would hold the flagstaffs. The facade, or front, of the pylon is decorated with panoramic scenes and texts of the famous Battle of Kadesh.