The good relationship of the Thebans with the central power in the North ended when the native Egyptian pharaohs were finally replaced by Greeks, led by Alexander the Great.
He visited Thebes during a celebration of the Opet Festival.
In spite of his welcoming visit, Thebes became a center for dissent.
Towards the end of the third century BC, Hugronaphor (Horwennefer), possibly of Nubian origin, led a revolt against the Ptolemies in Upper Egypt.
His successor, Ankhmakis, held large parts of Upper Egypt until 185 BC.
This revolt was supported by the Theban priesthood.
After the suppression of the revolt in 185 BC, Ptolemy V, in need of the support of the priesthood, forgave them.

Half a century later the Thebans rose again, elevating a certain Harsiesi to the throne in 132 BC.
Harsiesi, having helped himself to the funds of the royal bank at Thebes, fled the following year.
In 91 BC, another revolt broke out.
In the following years, Thebes was subdued, and the city turned into rubble.

During the Roman occupation (30 BC-349 AD), the remaining communities clustered around the pylon of the Luxor temple.
Thebes became part of the Roman province of Thebais, which later split into Thebais Superior, centered at the city, and Thebais Inferior, centered at Ptolemais Hermiou.
A Roman legion was headquartered in Luxor temple at the time of Roman campaigns in Nubia.
Building did not come to an abrupt stop, but the city continued to decline.
In the first century AD, Strabo described Thebes as having been relegated to a mere village.
The good relationship of the Thebans with the central power in the North ended when the native Egyptian pharaohs were finally replaced by Greeks, led by Alexander the Great. He visited Thebes during a celebration of the Opet Festival. In spite of his welcoming visit, Thebes became a center for dissent. Towards the end of the third century BC, Hugronaphor (Horwennefer), possibly of Nubian origin, led a revolt against the Ptolemies in Upper Egypt. His successor, Ankhmakis, held large parts of Upper Egypt until 185 BC. This revolt was supported by the Theban priesthood. After the suppression of the revolt in 185 BC, Ptolemy V, in need of the support of the priesthood, forgave them.
Half a century later the Thebans rose again, elevating a certain Harsiesi to the throne in 132 BC. Harsiesi, having helped himself to the funds of the royal bank at Thebes, fled the following year. In 91 BC, another revolt broke out. In the following years, Thebes was subdued, and the city turned into rubble.
During the Roman occupation (30 BC-349 AD), the remaining communities clustered around the pylon of the Luxor temple. Thebes became part of the Roman province of Thebais, which later split into Thebais Superior, centered at the city, and Thebais Inferior, centered at Ptolemais Hermiou. A Roman legion was headquartered in Luxor temple at the time of Roman campaigns in Nubia. Building did not come to an abrupt stop, but the city continued to decline. In the first century AD, Strabo described Thebes as having been relegated to a mere village.
Thebes, Egypt