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Karnak Temple
The temples of Luxor and Karnak are separated by about three kilometers with the sacred lake between them. The Temple of Karnak is as splendid at that of Luxor, perhaps even more so, and offers visitors some rare glimpses into the ancient past of Egypt. There are many wonderful things to see and enjoy here. Karnak is divided into three areas separated by rough brick walls. The largest area measures approximately 30 hectares and is the best restored area. This temple, dedicated to the god Amon, and is believed to be the oldest of the four temples at Thebes. To its left is the sanctuary of Manatee, the god of war and across from it is the sanctuary to the goddess Mut, Amon's wife, who, interestingly enough, was symbolically represented as a vulture. |
Karnak is the biggest temple complex in the world, covering an area of 100 hectares and there is nowhere more impressive to the first-time visitor. Much of it has been restored during the last century and our knowledge of the buildings here in different periods of Egyptian history is still increasing each year. In ancient times, Karnak was known as Ipet-isut, 'The most select of places'.
The temples are built along two axes (east-west and north-south) with the original Middle Kingdom shrines built on a mound in the centre of what is now called the Temple of Amun. |
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| Karnak Temple History |
After a century of foreign occupation, the New Kingdom (1550-1150 BC) of Egypt emerged, with its capital at Thebes. The captial city was embellished with grandiose temples worthy of the majesty of the pharaohs, the greatest being Karnak.
The temple complex of Karnak, dedicated to the Pharoah Amun, was the center of his worship and of his wife Mut and their son Khons. Each of them had a "precinct" (area) in the temple complex, the greatest and largest belonging to Amun. There was also a precinct for Montu, the falcon-headed local god.
Construction on the Karnak temple complex went on for 900 years, with each pharoah leaving a new temple, shrine, or pylon (monumental gateway), and added detailed hieroglyphic inscriptions across every surface of its buildings.
When the pharoah Akhenaton abandoned the traditional worship of Amun and took up the worhsip of Aten, the sun god, he built a temple to Aten at Karnak. But after his death, the Theban priests destroyed all signs of sun worship, including the temple that defiled Karnak.
Many of the main roads which lead to the temples of Thebes
(Luxor) used to be continuously lined with sphinxes. Those which flank the entrance of the First Pylon of Karnak combine the body of a lion with the head of a ram. The ram was a symbol of the god Amun for whom the temple was built. Each sphinx protects, between its forelegs, a standing statue of the king--originally Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.).
An avenue of sphinxes with curly-horned rams' heads leads to the entrance to the first pylon. The sphinxes represent a form of the sun god, Amun-Re. Between their paws is a small figure of Rameses II, who won the famous Battle of Qadesh against the Hittites in Syria (1274 B.C.). |
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Detail of Karnak Temple
The key difference between Karnak and most of the other temples and sites in Egypt is the length of time over which it was developed and used. Approximately 30 pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity and diversity not seen elsewhere. Few of the individual features of Karnak are unique, but the size and number of features is overwhelming.
The most spectacular of the temples at Karnak is the Temple of Amun (Amun's Precinct), the only section open to the public. This is entered via the Avenue of the Sphinxes, or Sacred Way, that once stretched the two miles from Karnak to Luxor Temple.
The whole complex was built over a period of 1300 years, beginning in the 16th century BC, and includes several of the finest examples of ancient Egyptian design and architecture. Among them are the Hypostyle Hall, considered one of the world's great architectural achievements. It is filled with 134 enormous pillars, the highest 70 feet tall, and each about 45 feet around. The whole thing covers 64,586 sq ft.
The Obelisk of Thutmose I, a 22m (71ft) monument, is the only one of four original obelisks that is still standing.
First pylon - main entrance: The avenue of ram-headed sphinxes leading to the first pylon which was built by the Ethiopian kings (656 BC). Originally there was three avenues of sphinxes one of which, two miles long, linked up with the avenue of human-headed sphinxes of the temple of Luxor.
Ram-headed sphinx:The ram-headed sphinx is a symbol of the god Amon.
He protects pharaoh - here shown between his front paws.
Kiosk of Taharka : The Libyan pharaohs (935-730 BC) built the vast court of the Bubastites. This column was once part of the kiosk of Taharka where the processional barks were kept.
Second pylon : The second pylon leading into the enormous hypostyle hall which was built by Seti I and his son Ramses II (between 1294 and 1213 BC)
Hypostyle hall : The massive columns in the
hypostyle hall dwarfs the people.There is still some paint surviving
on the under side of the capitals.Consisting of 134 columns, the Hippostyle Hall was started by Seti I, but the majority of the construction was done by Ramses II. The center columns are taller than the others, and the windows would allow light to come in. This hall may have been similar to Solomon's "House of the Forest of Lebanon" (1 Kings 7).
The Temple of Amon - Ra: It is difficult to appreciate the monumental size of the temple from this photo.
So click it and go inside.
Khonsu of Temple : The Temple of the Theban moon god Khonsu - son of Amon and Mut. He is often represented as a human headed figure wearing a crescent and disk.
The temple was built by Ramses III.
South entrance : The south entrance to Karnak. An avenue of sphinxes
origanaly ran from this gateway to the temple of Luxor.
Sanctuary of Montu : The sanctuary of Montu - the god of war and sport.
The pylon of Thutmose III : To the right is the pylon of Thutmose III and in the distance is the great temple of Amon. The Karnak area is scattered with fallen blocks of stone and like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle the temple is being reconstructed.
The Sacred Lake : The lake is 129 X 77 meters and was used for ritual navigation.
It was surrounded by storerooms and living quarters for the priests.
There was also an aviary for aquatic birds.Every Egyptian temple had a sacred lake, and the one at Karnak Temple was the largest. Used daily by the priests for purification, the sacred lake was also used in festivals during which images of the gods would travel across the lake in boats. The lake measures 130 x 77 meters and was surrounded by storerooms and homes of the priests.
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| Important Facts Karnak Temple |
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- Karnak Temple is a vast complex consisting of three main temples, several smaller enclosed temples, and a number of outer temples.
- The most spectacular of these is the Temple of Amun (Amun's Precinct).
- This is entered via the Avenue of the Sphinxes that once connected Karnak and Luxor Temples, and led through the ancient city of Thebes, the capital of Egypt during the period of the Middle and New Kingdoms.
- The whole complex was built over a period of 1300 years and includes several of the finest examples of ancient Egyptian design and architecture.
- Among them are the Hypostyle Hall, considered one of the world's great architectural achievements with around 130 enormous carved columns covering an area of 6000 sq meters (64,586 sq ft), and the Obelisk of Thutmose I, a 22m (71ft) monument, the only one of four original obelisks that is still standing. .
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| Getting There |
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Karnak Temple is on the northern edge of the town of Luxor. It is within walking distance from the Corniche, but visitors may prefer to take a taxi or a caleche (horse-drawn carriage) each way from the centre of town.
Air: Luxor International Airport
Rail: Luxor Station
Bus : Public buses leave from Luxor Bus Station but the vast majority of tourists visit the temple as part of an organised coach tour.
Taxi : Taxis can be hired from the centre of Luxor; alternatively visitors can travel by caleche (horse and cart). |
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| Hotels |
| HILTON P.O.Box 13, New Karnak, Luxor, Egypt 095 2374933 |
| Horus Hotel Karnak Temple Street, Behind the Temple of Luxor, Luxor, Egypt |
| SOFITEL KARNAKE l Zinia Gebly Street, Luxor, Egypt 095 2378020 |
| Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Khaled Ebn el Walid Street, Luxor, Egypt |
| Winter Palace Hotel Corniche El Nile Street, Luxor, Egypt 095 2380425 |
| Restaurents |
| El Hussein Restaurant Hilton St., New Karnak, Luxor, Egypt 095 2378335 |
| Oasis Café Dr Labib Habeshi Street, Luxor, Egypt 095 2372914 |
| The Lantern Al Roda al Sharifa Street, Luxor, Egypt 095 235451 |
| Nile Valley Restaurant Gesirat El Bairat, El Bairat El Gezira, Luxor, Egypt 095 2311477 |
| Salahadeen Restaurant Sharia Salah El deen Al Auby, Mara House, Luxor, Egypt 010 5462480 |
| Attractions |
| Luxor Temple Temple of Karnak, Luxor, Egypt |
| Valley of the Kings Yousef Hassan Street, Luxor, Egypt |
| Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari Egypt |
| Medinet Habu West Bank, Luxor, Egypt |
| Luxor Museum Egypt 095 2380269 |
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