Karnak Temple in Luxor

Karnak Temple in Luxor

The Karnak Temples, the largest temple complex in Egypt, are located in Karnak, a village about 2.5 kilometers north of Luxor and directly on the east bank of the Nile. The oldest visible remains of the temple date back to the 12th Dynasty under Sesostris I. The temple complex was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt until the Roman Imperial period.

The temple complex, along with the Luxor Temple and the Theban Necropolis, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

The Karnak Temple complex

Among the ruins, the Temple of Amun-Re stands out with its ten pylons, the largest of which is approximately 113 meters wide and 15 meters thick, with a planned height of about 45 meters. The temple covers an area of ​​approximately 30 hectares (with sides measuring 530, 515, 530, and 610 meters). Besides the pylons, the great hypostyle hall, begun by Horemheb and completed under Seti I and Ramses II, is particularly impressive.

The temple complex consists of three walled precincts: the Precinct of Amun (ancient Egyptian Ipet-sut, "Place of Choice"), the Precinct of Month (150 × 156 meters, total area 2.34 hectares), and the Precinct of Mut (405, 275, 295, and 250 meters in length, total area approximately 9.2 hectares). In addition to these three large temple precincts, there is also the Aten Temple, the Gem-pa-Aten, which Akhenaten had built in Karnak in the sixth year of his reign. In antiquity, an avenue lined on both sides with 365 sphinxes connected the Amun Temple with the Luxor Temple, located about 2.5 km away. This avenue ended at the 10th pylon of the temple.

Purpose of the Karnak Temple complex

After Amun-Res of Thebes was elevated to the status of local god and later state god, the rulers of the early Middle Kingdom began constructing a temple, which was expanded over millennia into the present-day temple complex where the Amun priesthood performed daily temple services. Temples were also erected for Amun's wife, the goddess Mut, and for their son Khonsu; together they formed the Theban Triad. In addition to these three gods, a temple was also dedicated to the god Montu, who remained the chief god of Thebes into the 11th Dynasty.

Upper part of Hatshepsut's obelisk at the Holy Lake

In ancient Egyptian belief systems, the principle of cosmological order is known as Maat. Since Maat is not an immutable state and can be disrupted by human activity, maintaining this balance is crucial to preventing chaos and destruction. An Egyptian temple represents a model of the world. Therefore, one of the king's highest duties was to preserve the balance of Maat. This was accomplished in the temple's most sacred area. Within the temple, sacred rituals (offerings, prayers, and chants) were performed by the king or his high priest.

Architectural history of Karnak Temple

The earliest evidence of an Amun cult in Thebes dates back to the Middle Kingdom. It is an octagonal column of Antef II, now in the Luxor Museum. The oldest visible structural remains date from the time of Sesostris I. During the New Kingdom, there was extensive building activity, and the temple complex soon reached enormous proportions. Construction on the temple continued into the Late and Greco-Roman periods.

Districts of the Karnak Temple complex

County of Amun

Amun-Re Temple in Karnak

The largest area of ​​the complex is the Precinct of Amun. It houses the great Temple of Amun-Re, the Temple of Khonsu, the barque shrine of Ramses III, a temple of Ipet, a small shrine of Ptah, and the Temple of Amenhotep II.

The Temple of Amun-Re

The Temple of Amun-Re, also known as the Imperial Temple, is the largest Egyptian temple, with a total of ten pylons. It is not a temple in the classical sense, but rather a complex of various interconnected sacred structures. During this process, different sections of the temple were dismantled and their building materials reused in other parts. Only the central area of ​​the temple, from what is now the fourth pylon to the Akh-menu, remained untouched, considered a particularly sacred zone.

The Temple of Amoun in Karnak Temple

west side of the temple

With its ten pylons, the largest approximately 113 meters wide and 15 meters thick, and a planned height of about 45 meters, and a total area of ​​approximately 30 hectares (sides measuring 530, 515, 530, and 610 meters), the Temple of Amun-Re is the largest temple in Egypt. Besides the Temple of Amun-Re, it also contained the Temple of Khonsu, the Temple of Opet, the Temple of Ptah, the Temple of Amenhotep II, and various chapels for the sacred barque, such as the White Chapel and the Red Chapel.

In antiquity, an avenue lined on both sides with 365 sphinxes connected the Temple of Amun with the Luxor Temple, located approximately 2.5 km away. This road ended at the 10th pylon of the temple.

Former port facility

Another avenue of sphinxes, with two rows of 66 sphinxes, connects the Temple of Amun to the Mut precinct. On the northwest side is a Nile harbor, which allowed the statue of the god to visit the west bank. Behind the entrance pylon, the temple opens onto a large courtyard. Beyond this lies the hypostyle hall. Continuing along the axis, one reaches the inner sanctuary. These areas were roofed. The temple was also constructed so that the floor sloped upwards towards the inner sanctuary, while the roof sloped downwards. The hypostyle hall behind the courtyard is among the most important structures to have survived from Egyptian times.

Many parts have been destroyed by time or by the pharaohs themselves as part of a damnatio memoriae ("condemnation of memory"). Even today, with its bleached ruins, the Karnak Temple presents an overwhelming sight.

Pylon II (West side)

The second pylon, built by Horemheb, formed the entrance front of the temple from the end of the 18th Dynasty until the reign of Nectanebo I. Since the beginning of the 18th Dynasty, a harbor basin serving as a landing stage had occupied the site, which Horemheb had filled in and rebuilt further west. The two pylon towers, once 14 meters thick and 35 meters high, survive only to about half their original height. Blocks from the demolished Aten temples of Pharaoh Akhenaten (e.g., Gem-pa-Aten) were used as fill material in their construction.

Statue of Ramses II with his daughter Meritamun, usurped by Pinudjem I.

In front of the entrance stood two monumental granite statues, of which only the southern one is completely preserved. It depicts the king with the double crown in a striding pose. Of the other statue, only the base with its feet remains. Inside the gateway stood two statues of gods. In 1954, during cleanup work at the collapsed north wing, Henri Chevrier discovered all the fragments of a colossal statue made of rose granite. The 13-meter-high statue was re-erected and probably depicts Ramses II, with his daughter-wife Meritamun standing between his legs.

Pylon IV and V

The overall appearance of the temple was radically altered for the first time after the Middle Kingdom by the Thutmosids. To create a new entrance, Thutmose I had the fourth and fifth pylons built along the east-west axis. Between them was a hypostyle hall, whose wooden ceiling was supported by columns of papyrus bundles covered with electrum.[4]

This structure was later removed by his daughter Hatshepsut when she had her two obelisks erected between the fourth and fifth pylons, thus requiring the wooden ceiling to be breached. At 32 meters high, they are the largest obelisks ever erected in Egypt. Their tips were adorned with electrum; according to ancient sources, they were even completely covered in electrum.[5] However, only one of them still stands in its original position, while the other has broken into several pieces; the remains can be seen today near the Sacred Lake.

VII. Pylon

Thutmose III decided to turn the processional axis southward and had the seventh pylon erected in the direction of the Mut sanctuary. It consisted of a granite portal approximately 13 meters high, in front of which stood colossal statues of the king on both sides. The pedestals of these statues bore the names of conquered peoples (in the east: Asians, in the west: Africans). Two large obelisks stood before them, but only one pedestal remains visible, as the other was transported to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine II in 357 AD. Even the earthen causeway built for its removal is still visible today. It has also been established that the design of the seventh pylon is a copy of the fourth pylon, so that the same depictions were found in the main and secondary axes (as well as in the gateways → King's Jubilee).

VIII. Pylon8. Pylon

The eighth pylon had already been erected under Hatshepsut, probably replacing an older structure made of Nile mud bricks (possibly by Amenhotep I). Its lower section was surrounded by a low limestone wall.

Relief decoration:

Interior facade (east side): Thutmose I thanks Amun for the enthronement of his daughter Hatshepsut (inscriptions are chiseled out, Hatshepsut's name replaced by Thutmose II)

Exterior facade: Amenhotep II "slaying the enemies" before Amun, Hatshepsut inscription largely destroyed

Sculptural decoration in front of the pylon

It is assumed that there were originally six seated figures in front of the pylon, but only the bases of two survive (Thutmose II, restored by Thutmose III). While nothing remains of the two other figures in front of the east wing, a seated statue of Amenhotep I (restored by Thutmose III) and a fragmentary one of Amenhotep II (restored by Thutmose IV) still stand in front of the west wing. This pylon was intended to be the actual entrance to the temple from the south, as evidenced by the inscriptions in the niches of the flagpoles of Amenhotep II.

Purpose of the Karnak Temple complex

After Amun-Res of Thebes was elevated to the status of local god and later state god, the rulers of the early Middle Kingdom began constructing a temple, which was expanded over millennia into the present-day temple complex where the Amun priesthood performed daily temple services. Temples were also built for Amun's wife, the goddess Mut, and for their son Khonsu; together they formed the Theban Triad.

Architectural History: Middle Ages - Columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall

The oldest building component found so far in the Amun district of Karnak is an octagonal column by Antef II bearing the name of the god Amun-Re.

Sesostris I built the first large temple from limestone. It measured 37.4 × 39.6 m and was surrounded by a brick enclosure wall. Statue pillars stood at the front, and the front part of the temple was surrounded by colonnades. According to Arnold, there was probably a sacred garden there. At the rear were three successive cult rooms. Within the enclosure wall were several station chapels, including the Chapelle Blanche (White Chapel).

New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty

At the beginning of the 18th Dynasty, the cult center of Amun was significantly expanded, starting with Amenhotep I. Thutmose I added pylons 4 and 5, a bowl-shaped enclosure wall, and a pair of obelisks 21.8 meters high. Thutmose II built the so-called Festival Court to the west. Further major construction projects took place under Hatshepsut and Thutmose III.

A large brick wall fortified with towers.

A forecourt with bark sanctuary, the so-called Red Chapel (Chapelle rouge), which was reconstructed at the beginning of the 21st century, as well as the Annals Hall.

A pair of obelisks, each 30.43 meters high, stood between the 4th and 5th pylons. As part of his damnatio memoriae, Thutmose III had the obelisks encased so they would no longer be visible. Paradoxically, this contributed to their preservation.

A sixth pylon was added between the Red Chapel and the fifth pylon.

A sacred lake was created or an existing lake was enlarged.

On the southern axis, towards the Mut district, the enormous pylons 7 and 8 were erected. Hatshepsut is represented on pylon 7 with four colossal statues, while pylon 8 features two seated statues and a pair of obelisks of Thutmose.

East of the Sesostris building, Thutmose erected the Achmenu.

Six station chapels were built along the processional route to Luxor.

Amenhotep III extended the temple axis to the west and south. He destroyed numerous smaller chapels and monuments from the 12th and early 18th Dynasties that stood along this axis and incorporated them into the foundations. He added the 3rd pylon[9] with eight flagpoles approximately 40 meters high. On the southern axis, he completed the project with the 10th pylon, in front of which stood two colossal quartzite statues of the pharaoh. It is likely that, as part of this massive building program, the processional way to the Mut Temple and Luxor was also renovated and adorned with 60 sphinxes.

During the Amarna period, continuous construction was interrupted. At the beginning of his reign, Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) built an Aten sanctuary (Gempa-Aton (Karnak)) south of the Amun district, but this was destroyed under Horemheb and used as fill material.

Horemheb built the 9th and 10th pylons on the south axis. He added the 2nd pylon to the west of the Amun Temple, which was 35 m high and 98 m wide, using stones from the destroyed Aten sanctuary.

Columns of the Hypostyle Hall of Karnak Temple

Reconstruction of the colonnade

Among the most important areas of the temple is the great hypostyle hall, which Horemheb began to build between the second and third pylons and which was later completed under Seti I and Ramses II. Measuring 103 meters in length and 53 meters in width, it once contained 134 papyrus columns supporting the wooden roof of the hypostyle hall. In the nave, the columns reached a height of up to 22.5 meters.

Great Column Hall in the Karnak Temple

The Great Hypostyle Hall is the most famous and impressive part of the Temple of Amun. When Seti I ascended the throne, he found two rows of six enormous columns each, every 23 meters high and with a circumference of 10 meters. As if these weren't impressive enough, he expanded the structure into a complete hypostyle hall, though he was only able to finish the northern section. The southern section was then built by his son, Ramses II. He was known for his own philosophy: the bigger and more spectacular, the better. All 134 columns still stand today in the Great Hypostyle Hall of the Temple of Karnak. Originally, the hall was completely covered with sandstone blocks. A few of these "roof slabs" still remain.

The colonnade has been under reconstruction for over 100 years. Here you see a reconstruction of the original colonnade.

On some of the undersides of the ceiling beams, which are protected from the sun, and in some other places, the old, very colorful paintings can still be seen.

The two central rows of columns are taller than the remaining columns in the side hall. The most striking difference is the shape of the capitals. The texts and depictions on the columns are largely propaganda.

The columns on the right and left sides of the hall imitate a closed papyrus umbel. The natural model for the capitals of the two central, higher rows of columns is the open papyrus umbel. These columns are therefore—like the Taharqa Column in the First Great Court near the Ramses statue—nothing other than representations of plant stems.

The difference in height between the lower side aisles and the three raised central aisles was compensated for by exterior walls. Window grilles were built into these walls.

Look upwards towards the nave: there you can still see remnants of these original window grilles. Above all, you will gain a very good impression of the original colors of the decoration on these columns and, incidentally, also on the temple walls, which were painted in bright, almost garish colors.

Ach-menu

Also worth mentioning is the Akh-menu, or Festival Temple of Thutmose III, which bears the ancient Egyptian name Men-kheper-Ra-ach-menu: "Glorious among monuments is Men-kheper-Ra" (Thutmose III) or "Exalted is the memory of Men-kheper-Ra." In addition to these names, the designation "House of Million Years" can also be found, suggesting that the temple was dedicated to the cult of the king in his manifestation as Amun-Re.

Kiosk des Taharqa

The architecturally striking festival hall is often referred to as a festival tent due to the arrangement of its columns. The higher central space consists of two rows of ten columns each and is surrounded by lower side aisles with a total of 32 columns.[8] The entrance to the Ach-menu contains the so-called Karnak King List, which lists the names of 61 kings. The Ach-menu lies on the east-west axis of the temple precinct, although the north-south axis is also taken into account in the building's layout. At the rear are the sanctuaries for the gods Sokar (to the south) and Amun-Re (to the north). Next to the festival temple of Thutmose III is the kiosk of the Taharqa.

During the restoration of the third pylon of the temple, erected by Amenhotep III, building materials from the White Chapel, the Red Chapel, and the Alabaster Chapel were discovered.[3] North of the Amun-Re Temple, the White Chapel of Sesostris I, the oldest surviving structure in the complex, and the Alabaster Chapel were reconstructed in the 20th century using recovered building materials. The Red Chapel of Hatshepsut was also rebuilt here at the beginning of the 21st century. The third pylon was originally about 98 meters long and about 14 meters wide. Because it is now severely damaged, only about a quarter of its original height of approximately 35 meters remains.

White Chapel

The White Chapel (also known as Chapelle blanche) was built of white limestone by Sesostris I during the 12th Dynasty. It is the oldest surviving structure in the temple complex. A kiosk measuring 6.54 x 6.54 meters stands on a 1.18-meter-high base, its roof supported by four by four pillars. The White Chapel was built as a bark sanctuary and thus served as a station chapel for the divine bark during various festivals. Like the Red Chapel and the Alabaster Chapel, the White Chapel stood in the area between the third and seventh pylons. The chapel has been reconstructed in the Karnak Open-Air Museum.

Red Chapel

The Red Chapel was built by Queen Hatshepsut during the 18th Dynasty. Originally, the chapel stood in the area between the third and seventh pylons. Later, the chapel, built as a barque sanctuary, was demolished by Thutmose III. Amenhotep III had the blocks used as fill material for the third pylon. During restoration work, 319 blocks of black granite and red quartzite from the chapel were unearthed. These blocks were used to reconstruct the Red Chapel in the open-air museum of the temple complex.

The artworks in the Red Chapel depict the coronation of Hatshepsut, sacrificial scenes, and Theban festivals such as the Opet Festival. The chapel thus also houses the oldest depiction of this festival.

Alabaster Chapel

The alabaster chapel, built in the 18th Dynasty as a barque sanctuary by Thutmose IV, probably stood, like the Red and White Chapels, in the area between the third and seventh pylons.

Tempel Ramses III.

In the courtyard behind the first pylon, on the right-hand side, stands the Temple of Ramses III. It remains almost completely intact and in very good condition. Behind a pylon with two colossal statues in front of it lies the festival courtyard, lined on each side by eight statue pillars. Adjoining the courtyard is a small hall with four statue pillars. Beyond this is the hypostyle hall with two rows of four columns. Behind the hypostyle hall are three sanctuaries dedicated to the gods Amun-Re, Mut, and Khonsu. The resemblance to Temple C of the Mut precinct is striking.

Sacred Lake in Karnak Temple

The sacred lake measures 120 x 77 meters and lies south of the central temple building. This lake has no external water supply; it is fed solely by groundwater. Next to the lake was a small, covered goose enclosure, connected to the lake by a passageway. The geese were the sacred animals of Amun. The priests also drew water from the lake to wash the statues of the gods.

Temple of Opet

The Temple of Opet was built during the Ptolemaic period by Ptolemy VIII. A staircase located within a kiosk with four columns leads through the gate of the first pylon into the first courtyard. Within the first courtyard is another kiosk, also with four columns. The second courtyard is situated on higher ground, presumably representing the primordial mound. In the rear of the temple, there is an underground tomb of Osiris and a crypt. Here, the metamorphosis of the god Amun-Re took place: he died as Osiris, then entered the body of Ipet-weret-Nut and was reborn as the god Khonsu.

Temple of Khonsu

Pylon des Chons-Tempels

Great Column Hall of the Temple

The Temple of Khonsu is located on the southern edge of the Precinct of Amun; it is approximately 80 meters long and 30 meters wide. The temple lies directly opposite the Luxor Temple. Construction began during the 20th Dynasty under Pharaoh Ramses III, and it was later completed by Ramses IV, Ramses XI, and Herihor. Behind the large entrance pylon is a grand hypostyle hall with 28 columns. Adjoining this is a hypostyle hall with eight large columns, and finally the central hall, known as the Hall of the Barque.

Temple of the Ptah

Gate in the Temple of Ptah

The Temple of Ptah is located on the northern wall of the Amun Precinct and was originally surrounded by a wall. With the construction of the large wall around the Amun Precinct, the temple's forecourt was reduced in size. Ptolemy III erected the temple's small pylon, which contains several interior rooms. A small kiosk stands in front of the pylon. The rest of the temple was built under Thutmose III. All parts of the temple constructed of stone are completely preserved.

Temple of Amenhotep II.

Behind the tenth pylon, on the east side, is the Temple of Amenhotep II. A ramp leads to the entrance, which is an open colonnade. Behind the colonnade is a square hypostyle hall. To the north and south of the hypostyle hall are further small rooms. Recent investigations have shown that it was not Amenhotep II who commissioned the temple in its present form, but rather that Seti I had it built using materials from a demolished building of Amenhotep II.[18]

District of the Month

To the north, directly adjacent to the large area of ​​Amun-Re, lies a 151 x 155 m area containing the temple precinct of Month. The surrounding wall dates from the time of Nectanebo I. The temple itself was built by Amenhotep III. Next to the Temple of Month are a Temple of Maat, a Temple of Harpare (built by Taharqa), and the Treasury of Thutmose I, located outside the enclosure wall. The Temple of Month opens towards the Month cult site of al-Madamud, approximately five kilometers away. From the temple entrance, an avenue of sphinxes, lined on both sides with 30 human-headed sphinxes, leads to a quay, now disconnected from the water.

District of Courage

Statue of Sekhmet in the Mut district

Approximately 350 meters south of the Amun-Re Temple lies an area of ​​roughly 250 x 350 meters, encompassing the Mut precinct. It was connected to the Amun-Re Temple by an avenue of 66 sphinxes. Besides the Mut Temple, which is surrounded on three sides by a sacred lake, the remains of a birthplace of Ramses II for "Khonspachrod," a temple of Ramses III, and, outside the wall, the Kamutef Temples are also present. In 1840, the temples were largely demolished, and the materials were used for a factory.

Temple of Courage

The entrance pylon of the Mut Temple was built by Seti II. In front of the pylon were two columned shade structures, built by Taharqa. In the courtyard behind the first pylon, a colonnade formed by four columns on each side along its central axis. The gate in the second pylon led to the festival courtyard, where the colonnade continued with five columns on each side. Both courtyards once contained seated statues of the goddess Sekhmet. Beyond the festival courtyard was the hypostyle hall, whose ceiling was originally supported by eight columns. Adjoining the hypostyle hall was the bark sanctuary, surrounded by several side chambers. Through the bark sanctuary, one entered the pronaos, an antechamber to the sanctuary. The temple's sanctuary consisted of three niches for cult statues. Ptolemy II built a counter-temple against the rear wall of the temple. The temple was largely demolished in 1840.

Temple A

Temple A is located east of the Mut Temple, to the right of the main gate, directly behind the enclosure wall. According to Dieter Arnold, Temple A was built by Ramses II.[21] , while Paul Barguet attributes it to Thutmose IV.[23] The first of the three pylons was constructed of Nile mud bricks. Two statues located there bear the name Ramses II but were probably usurped. Stone blocks from the 18th to 22nd Dynasties were reused in the second pylon. The third pylon is again attributed to Ramses II, and its decorations date from his time. There are also differing opinions regarding the temple's significance. According to Daumas, it was a barque sanctuary dedicated to Khonsu (Khonsu the Child),[24] while Arnold considers it to be Khonsu's birthplace. Unfortunately, the few surviving paintings and reliefs do not allow for a more precise determination.

Paste C

West of the Sacred Lake, also called Ischeru or Asheru, lies the so-called Temple C. Ramses III commissioned the temple, dedicated to Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, during the 20th Dynasty. Two monumental statues of Ramses III originally flanked the entrance in the temple's first pylon. In the ceremonial courtyard behind the first pylon, eight statues stood on each side. A ramp at the end of the ceremonial hall led to a small columned portico and the hypostyle hall, whose ceiling was supported by four columns. Three storage rooms were located on each side of the hypostyle hall. Through the hypostyle hall, one entered a vestibule, beyond which lay the three sanctuaries. The temple is heavily damaged, but Ramses III has been definitively identified as its builder based on Papyrus Harris I.

Temple of Kamutef

Kamutef Temple

The Kamutef Temple, built by Hatshepsut, stands directly northeast of the walled temple precinct of the Mut, along the 330-meter-long avenue of sphinxes lined with 66 sphinxes on each side. The stone temple building measures approximately 38.5 x 48.5 meters. It was surrounded by a brick wall that opened onto the avenue of sphinxes at a pylon. Thutmose III later attempted to destroy all evidence of the original builder, but the reliefs clearly indicate that Hatshepsut was responsible for their placement.

Game-of-Aton

Restored Talatat blocks from the Gem-pa-Aton

East of the Amun precinct stood an Aten sanctuary (ancient Egyptian Gm-p3-Jtn, "Aten has been found"), likely built by Akhenaten in the sixth year of his reign. The Aten temple measured approximately 130 × 200 meters, making it larger than the Temple of Amun at the time. Akhenaten ordered the closure of the other temples in Karnak and elevated the sun god Aten to the sole deity. After the original order was restored, at the latest under Horemheb, the other temples of Karnak were reopened, and the Gem-pa-Aten was completely demolished. Tens of thousands of the talatat blocks were reused as fill material in the constructions of Horemheb and his successors and have therefore survived in good or very good condition. These blocks were primarily used for pylons 2, 9, and 10. Several hundred of these blocks have been restored and reassembled in the Luxor Museum.