Karnak temple complex of Upper Egypt, located on the east bank of the Nile. Together with Luxor, it was part of the religious center of Thebes, the seat of the dynastic god Amun and the burial area chosen by the sovereigns. There are still impressive remains of the great Thebes complexes. These are monumental buildings begun under the 18th dynasty, to which temples and other buildings were added until the Ptolemaic Age. The main temples of Karnak . are dedicated to Amon-Ra, Khonsu, Mut, and Montu.
Karnak Temple is located in the city of Luxor, known in ancient times as Thebes, which is the most pharaonic city full of wonderful archaeological monuments and many temples, as the temple is located on the eastern bank of the Nile River.
It was built by Amenhotep I to Thutmose I to Hatshepsut, the rulers of the 18th dynasty inserted buildings and precious obelisks, lengthening the entrance ways, but it was Thutmose III who
deeply innovated the temple complex. Later, other sovereigns, such as Amenhotep III, Akhenaten, Sethi I and Ramesses II, provided for further enlargements and embellishments of the sacred area.
Karnak temple hypostyle hall Above all.
the Karnak temple hypostyle hall stands out where 134 elegant columns, with papyrus- shaped capitals, stand out thickly against the sky and support a partial roof made up of enormous monolithic slabs. Powerful columns decorated with inscriptions and reliefs that emphasize the glory of the great Ramses II, who completed the construction begun by his father Seti I.
There is no doubt that the construction of the temple involved 30 pharaohs, as its area is actually larger than some ancient cities, and its construction was certainly extremely difficult and complex.
Its construction began in Luxor, dating back more than 4,000 years, and it has a special architectural imprint. It is an amazing and wonderful building in the middle of more than temples and many buildings.
Its construction is believed to have begun during the Middle Kingdom and continued to expand over several centuries, with contributions from several pharaohs, including Seti I, Ramesses II, and Hatshepsut.
The temple is characterized by the presence of many columns, as there are likely 134 columns and the height is about 21 meters.
Of course, there are three sacred areas in the temple that were to honor the gods such as Amun and were of great importance in ancient times and to this day they remain one of the most important tourist attractions.
The temple is located on a large area and consists of the Amun Wall, and it is clear from the name that it was dedicated to the god Amun, who headed the Theban triad.
Monto is located to the north of the temple and is smaller in area and symbolizes the warrior god.
Then the Death Boat is located to the south of the temple and is dedicated to the second god in the Theban triad. Finally, the Temple of Opet was dedicated to the Nile flood celebrations and religious festivals.
The temple is certainly the second most visited site due to its magnificence and excitement in terms of area and construction.
The Great Temple of Amun – Karnak and the Luxor Temple stand out in the majestic Karnak temple complex. One of the most official and ceremonial sites in the country. Since the Twelfth Dynasty, The illustrious pharaohs contributed to the construction of the massive complex over the course of 1,600 years, enhancing it and leaving an indelible mark of its splendor. The Great Temple of Karnak is dedicated to the divine trinity of the god Amun, his wife Mut, and his son Khonsu.
A series of columns, obelisks, statues, courtyards and majestic porticoes lead to the sanctuary, the spiritual heart of the temple, with the naos housing the statue of the god Amun and the sacred boat, which was used to lead the god in procession on the waters of the Nile.
Near the sacred lake there is a statue of the Khepri beetle, which represents the sun rising, a symbol of birth from the afterlife. Considered sacred, the tradition of making a few laps around the giant statue to receive luck, love and fertility is still respected today.
It was connected to the Luxor Temple via Sphinx Street. Currently, there is part of the beautiful work in front of the entrance to the Great Temple of Amun, where 40 stone statues of the Sphinx with the head of a ram and the body of a lion, the eternal guardian of the exceptional Egyptian, are placed. A place of worship. The construction of Luxor Temple began by Pharaoh Amenhotep III of the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Many kings expanded and decorated it, but Ramses II was the one who completed and enriched it with important architectural works. To welcome you, at the entrance there are two statues of the legendary pharaoh along with a magnificent granite obelisk. The temple is also dedicated to the god Amun, guards the divine statue, and was intended to receive the sacred boat carrying the image of the god along the Nile River, from the Great Temple of Karnak, during the annual Opet Feast.
The Karnak Temple Complex is an expression of high artistic refinement and admired by its stunning beauty, one can realize the prestige and power of Egypt during the New Kingdom.
It is certain that the Karnak Temple played a very important role in the religious and political life in ancient Egypt, as the temple was one of the main places of worship, such as the worship of Amun, and religious celebrations were also held there, in addition to being a center of power and religiously linked to the Luxor Temple.
In fact, if you are a fan of history and ancient Egyptian civilization, you should visit Egypt and spend your vacation in Luxor, as it is the city of history and civilization, because you will discover a lot about the civilization of the ancient Egyptians and how their lives were in building temples, especially the Karnak Temple, one of the largest temples.
