The religious complex of Karnak on the northern edge of Luxor was the largest religious
site of the ancient world, covering around 100 hectares. Its original name was Ipet-isut
that means “The Most Select of Places” The complex is located on the banks of the
Nile River and is after pyramids the most famous archeological place of Egypt. Karnak
is an impressive set of temples which were part of the Thebes city, the capital
of the Egyptian Empire during the middle Kingdom and the new Kingdom.
The Karnak complex is composed by 4 main parts. The most famous and largest of them
is the Precinct of Amun-Ra; since it is the only that is accessible for tourists.
The other three parts are the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Montu and the Temple
of Amenhotep.
The main deity that was adored in Karnak was the Egyptian God Amun whose temple
is situated in the center of the complex. The Temple of Montu is located at the
north and the Temple of Mut is at the south. In addition to the main temples, there
are also several small temples and chapels in the entire complex, such as the Temple
of Khonsu, the Temple of Osiris Hek-Djet or the Temple of Opet.
An avenue of ram-headed sphinxes (symbols of the Amun god) leads to the front of
the giant first pylon
where there is a great statue of the king Ramesses II. The
first pylon was never finished and there are near this pylon, some
remains of a
mud brick ramp, which is the only example that shows how the pylon was constructed.
One of the most impressive parts of Karnak is the Hypostyle Hall, which is located
passing through the Second Pylon.
This hall is considered one of the most important
works of architecture in the world. The construction of this wonderful hall started during the reign of Amenhotep III and was finished by its grandson the King Ramesses
II. All walls, ceilings and columns are painted with the natural earth tones. The
roof of the hall is 82 feet (25 meters) high and is supported by 12 papyrus columns
set in two rows of six, which are made of sandstone.
Besides, each row of main columns
is flanked also by seven rows of 9 columns of 42 feet (12.8 meters) high each one.
In total 134 columns compose this wonderful place. The hall is ornamented with reliefs
that represent scenes of the Egyptian mythology of the creation. Whereas the outer
walls of the Hypostyle Hall are adorned with battle scenes of the reigns of Seti
I and Ramesses II.
The third Pylon was constructed by Amenhotep III, in this zone there are also several
impressive obelisks such as the obelisk of Tuthmosis I which is 70 feet (21 meters)
height and 143 tons weight or the obelisk of Hatsheput (one of the few female pharaoh)
that is 97 feet (30 meters) high, weights 320 tons and was dedicated to Amun. The
fourth and fifth pylons were built by Thutmose I and they are smaller than the third
pylon.
Karnak is a marvelous place that you can visit from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm. Admission
costs LE 20 for foreigners and LE 10 for foreign students. There are guided tours
available in several languages.
History
The construction of the complex of Karnak began with the 12th Dynasty (1991 – 1785
BC). The first temple was dedicated to the early god of Thebes, the god Montu. Nevertheless,
the construction of the temple was a work that lasted around 900 years, since many
pharaohs of several dynasties added several constructions (temples, shrines or pylons)
in Karnak.
Entrance to Karnak
Karnak was part of the ancient city of Thebes which was the capital and the cultural
center of the Egyptian Empire. The complex of Karnak was during a long and continuous
time the main religious site of Egypt. Nevertheless, the temple was abandoned during
short time when the pharaoh Akhenaton took the power and decided to abandon the
worship to Amun and replace it for the worship to the Sun God Aten; then he constructed
a new capital and new temples. But, after Akhenaton’s death, the worship to Aten
was forgotten and the Theban priests destroyed all the signals of the Aknhenaton
reign and the Sun’s worship. Then, Karnak became again the religious center of Egypt.
In the IV century BC when the Greeks conquered Egypt, they moved the capital of
the Kingdom to Alexandria marking the beginning of the end to the religious center.
However, the site was even respected even in the Ptolemy Dynasty and in the early
Roman time. But, in 323 AD Constantine the Great recognized the Christian religion
and in 346 AD the Emperor ordered to close all the pagan temples. Then the Karnak
complex was abandoned and four Christian churches were established within the enclosure
of the complex.
During the Medieval Age, the ancient Egyptian culture was forgotten and even the
location of Thebes was unknown. Only in the XVI century a Venetian traveler described
the complex of Karnak. Later several travelers wrote chronicles about Karnak and
other important sites of the ancient Egypt during the XVII and XVIII centuries, until 1798 when Vivant Denon a scientist member of the Napoleon’s expedition described
the complex with detail.
Today Karnak is after the pyramids the most famous and visited place of Egypt. One
of the most impressive examples of the greatness of the ancient country of the pharaohs
and a great source of information for archeologists from all the world, who search
answers about the still mysterious history of the great Egyptian civilization.