Karnak Temple

Karnak Temple is one of the largest temple complexes in the world. This magnificent Temple has incredibly rich architectural and it was covering about 200 acres (1.5 km by 0.8 km), and was a place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years, was dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu.

This great Temple of Amon Ra was known during the Middle Kingdom period as Ipt-Swt, which means the Selected Spot. It was also called Pr-Imn, or the House of Amon. The name Al-Karnak in Arabic was derived from Karnak, which means fortified village.

This superb complex hosting a group of temples and it has been enlarged over a thirteen hundred years period. The three main temples of Mut, Montu and Amun are enclosed by enormous brick walls. The Open Air Museum is located to the north of the first courtyard, across from the Sacred Lake.

The main complex, The Temple of Amun, is situated in the center of the entire complex. The Temple of Monthu is to the north of the Temple of Amun, and next to it, inside of the enclosure wall is the Temple of Ptah, while the Temple of Mut is to the south.

There is also the small Temple dedicated to Khonsu, and next to it, an even smaller Temple of Opet. Actually there are a number of smaller temples and chapels spread about Karnak, such as the Temple of Osiris Hek-Djet (Heqadjet), which is actually inside the enclosure wall of the Temple of Amun. , mud brick enclosure wall surrounds all of these buildings, On your way towards the entrance, you will find a ram-headed avenue of Sphinxes, which was built to protect the Temple of Karnak, it is comprised of a series of pylons (monumental gateways which taper towards the top to cornices), leading into courtyards, halls, and temples. The first pylon opens onto a wide court which invites the visitor further. The second pylon opens onto the Hypostyle Court which measures 337 feet (103 meters) by 170 feet (52 meters). The hall is supported by 134 columns 72 feet (22 meters) tall and 11 feet (3.5 meters) around in diameter, The Hypostyle Hall leads to The 3rd Pylon, built by Amenhotep III, Crossing the 3rd Pylon, you come to an open, rectangular court, which is known as the Court of Tuthmosis I. Tuthmosis I erected 2 obelisks, but only one obelisk has survived: 19m high and around 310 tons in weight, From the Court of Tuthmosis, we reach the 4th Pylon, which Tuthmosis I also built, The 5th Pylon, yet again built by Tuthmosis I, is damaged and on both sides of the entrance, Tuthmosis III built two small rooms, The 6th Pylon, which was built by Tuthmosis III. Beyond this pylon, Tuthmosis III built his famous hall, the Ancestral Room. The original Sanctuary was built by Tuthmosis III, but Philip Arrhidaeus later rebuilt it.

Behind the sanctuary, you will see a court, dating back to the time of the Middle Kingdom. It is a wide-open courtyard that is badly damaged now, Most probably this spot was the site of an old Temple, dating back to the time of the Middle Kingdom: the origin of the Karnak Temple.

The 7th Pylon, which is badly damaged, was built by Tuthmosis III.Crossing the 7th Pylon to the court beyond, you will see 2 statues of Ramses II and Tuthmosis III,The 8th Pylon was built by Hatshepsut, decorated by Tuthmosis III, and restored by Seti I. The scenes on the façade of the Pylon represent Hatshepsut with different deities, and a religious scene featuring Tuthmosis III, The 9th Pylon, which was built by Horemheb, is badly damaged. A large number of bricks were found inside, which were being used as filling. They belonged to the Aton Temple, Finally, we reach the 10th Pylon, damaged as well, and again built by King Horemheb. In front of this Pylon, there are the remains of an avenue of Sphinxes, built by Horemheb, and extending to the gate of Ptolemy II in front of Mut Temple.

The Egyptians believed that towards the end of annual agricultural cycle the gods and the earth became exhausted and required a fresh input of energy from the chaotic energy of the cosmos,To accomplish this magical regeneration the Opet festival was held yearly at Karnak . It lasted for twenty-seven days and was also a celebration of the link between pharaoh and the god Amun. The procession began at Karnak and ended at Luxor Temple, one and a half miles (2.4 kilometres) to the south.

Everyday the idol of the god Amun was ritualistically bathed with holy water, dressed in fine linen, and adorned in gold and silver jewellery.

You have to attend marvelous Sound and Light show at the Temple of Karnak while you are in luxor