Bible Dictionaries
No, No-Amon

Holman Bible Dictionary

(noh, noh-ay' mahn) Ancient name for Egyptian city of Thebes (modern Luxor). Inherent in its name is its reputation. No is a word for the best of cities and Amon the name of the Egyptian god, Amun-Re. Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 46:25 ), Ezekiel (Jeremiah 30:14-15 ,Jeremiah 30:14-15,30:16 ), and Nahum (Jeremiah 3:8 ) were well aware of its prominence. To attack this capital city was to strike at the heart and spirit of Egypt.

Although Thebes existed before the Middle Kingdom (about 2040-1750 B.C.), it was not particularly noteworthy. In the New Kingdom (about 1550-1070 B.C.) Thebes became the worship and cultural center of Egypt. Pharaoh after pharaoh added to the magnificent temples of Karnak and its “queen” just to the south, Luxor. These two edifices dominated the east side of the Nile while the funerary temples, and the valleys of the kings (Biban el-Moluk) and queens occupied the west side. Deir el-Bahri (Hatshepsut), the Memnon Colossi (Amenhotep III), the Ramasseum (Rameses II), and Medinet Habu (Rameses III) are just a few sites still witnessing to the past glory of Thebes. As Nahum indicated, Thebes was not invincible. In 661 B.C. Ashurbanipal (of Assyria) sacked the sacred site. Mortally wounded, the city never fully recovered. See Egypt .

Gary C. Huckabay