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The term Karnak often is understood as being the Precinct of Amun-Re only, because this is the only part most visitors see.

The three other parts, the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Montu, and the dismantled Temple of Amenhotep IV, are closed to the public.

There also are a few smaller temples and sanctuaries connecting the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Amun-Re, and the Luxor Temple.

 

What to See at Karnak Temple

The Karnak temple complex is huge, covering a site almost a mile by two miles in area. There are over 25 temples and chapels in the complex, including separate shrines for the three boats that took the statues of the gods on their annual trip on the flooding Nile. Sanctuaries, obelisks, and groups of columns all feature accounts of the heroic deeds of the sponsoring pharoah.

 

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 sheer size and number of features makes it one of the most impressive temple complexes in Egypt.

 

The Karnak complex 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 hall covers an area of 64,586 sq ft.

 

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 Obelisk of Thutmose I, a 22m (71ft) monument, is the only one of four original obelisks that is still standing.

 

The gigantic First Pylon, built in the time of the Ethiopian kings, is 113 meters wide with walls 15 meters thick and still stands 43.5 meters high. It was left unfinished, and fragments of the scaffolding of sun-dried brick used during its construction are still visible.

 

Beyond the Pylon, you come to the Great Court, which dates from the 22nd Dynasty. It is 103 meters wide by 84 meters deep with colonnades on both sides. The south colonnade is interrupted by the front part of Ramses III's temple.

In the north corner of the court is the small Temple of Seti II, which consists of three chapels dedicated respectively (from left to right) to Mut, Amun, and Khons, each with niches for the image of the deity.

The two pedestals in the middle of the court (only the base of the right hand one being preserved) were intended for statues. Beyond them is the Kiosk of Taharqa. Of its original 10 columns, one, on the right, has survived complete with its open capital and abacus; the five on the left have been reconstructed. The kiosk had doorways on all four sides; in front of the west door, to the right, is a recumbent sphinx. On the right hand column (restored 1927) the name of Psammetichus has been placed over that of the Ethiopian ruler Taharqa (25th Dynasty). Adjoining it is the name of Ptolemy IV Philopator, which also appears on the abacus.

 

On the right hand side of the court is the Temple of Ramses III, dedicated to Amun, which is perhaps the best example of a simple Egyptian temple built on a unified plan.

 

From the Vestibule, a doorway leads into the Hypostyle Hall, which has eight columns with closed capitals. Beyond this are three chapels dedicated respectively from left to right to Mut, Amun, and Khons.

 

The Second Pylon, built by Ramses II, is badly dilapidated. The towers have been freed from the ruins of later buildings erected in front of them using stone of the Amarna period. In the center is the huge doorway, formerly preceded by a kind of small vestibule flanked by two statues of Ramses II: one of these (on the right) still stands, of the other, only the legs are left.

 

Beyond the Pylon is the Great Hypostyle Hall, justifiably regarded as one of the wonders of the world. This huge hall still exerts an overwhelming effect on everyone who enters. Measuring 103 meters by 52 meters, it covers an area of more than 5,000 square meters.

The roof was supported on 134 columns in 16 rows. The two central rows, which are higher, consist of papyrus columns with open capitals, while the other rows have closed capitals. The roof of the central aisle, 24 meters high, rested on the two central rows of columns and on one of the lower rows on each side, the difference in height being made good by square pillars on top of the lower columns. Between these pillars were windows with stone lattice work (one of which, on the south side, is almost perfectly preserved).

 

The outer walls of the Hypostyle Hall have historical reliefs depicting the victories of Seti I (north wall) and Ramses II (south wall) over the people of Palestine and Libya. They are best seen by afternoon light. On the east end of the north wall, you see Seti in Lebanon, while below, a battle with the Bedouin of southern Palestine. To the right and left of the doorway are two huge reliefs: Seti I holding enemies by the hair with his club raised to smite them; and Amun, with several rows of captured nations and cities, presenting the curved sword of victory.

 

The rear wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall is formed by the Third Pylon, built by Amenophis III. Incorporated in its structure were large blocks decorated with reliefs from 13 earlier temples. On the south tower is a long inscription (top part destroyed) detailing the gifts made by the King to Amun. On the north tower are the last remnants of a relief depicting a ceremonial voyage on the Nile (the King on the sacred barque of Amun with another vessel).

 

In the Central Court beyond the Third Pylon there were formerly four obelisks, two of them set up by Tuthmosis I and two by Tuthmosis II. One of these is still standing, together with the bases of the other three. It is 21.75 meters high and is estimated to weigh 143 tons. On each face of the obelisk are three vertical inscriptions, the central one being the dedicatory inscription by Tuthmosis I; the other two are additions by Ramses IV and VI. The obelisks erected by Tuthmosis I marked the former entrance to the temple

 

The Fourth Pylon, built by Tuthmosis I, is in a ruinous condition. The doorway, according to the relief inscription, was restored by Alexander the Great. Beyond the pylon is a colonnade, also ruined, which originally contained huge statues of Osiris set in niches and two obelisks of Aswan granite erected by Queen Hatshepsut, the tips of which were covered with electrum (an alloy of gold and silver). The right hand (south) obelisk lies broken on the ground, its upper part on a heap of rubble to the right; on the base are long inscriptions celebrating the power of the Queen.

 

Beyond the Fifth Pylon, built by Tuthmosis I, are two small antechambers, now in a state of ruin, built by Tuthmosis III in front of the Sixth Pylon. To the right and left are courts with colonnades of 16-sided columns and statues of Osiris - remnants of the large court built by Tuthmosis I around the temple of the Middle Kingdom. In the passage leading to the north court is a colossal seated figure of Amenophis II in red granite.

The Sixth Pylon built by Tuthmosis III, the last and smallest of all, is also in a ruined state. On the walls to the right and left of the granite central doorway are lists of the cities and tribes subdued by Tuthmosis III: to the right, the people of the southern lands; to the left, "the lands of the Upper Retenu, which his majesty took in the miserable city of Megiddo."

 

The Sixth Pylon leads you into the First Hall of Records, built by Tuthmosis III in a court, which he had constructed previously. Here, stand two granite pillars, which once supported the roof - the one on the right (south) with the lotus; the one on the left with the papyrus, the emblems of Upper and Lower Egypt. Here, too, are the magnificent colossal statues of Amun (much restored) and the goddess Amaunet, of reddish sandstone, dedicated by Tutankhamun, whose name was later chiseled out and replaced by that of his successor Horemheb.

 

On the north wall of the Second Hall of Records of Tuthmosis III, which surrounds the chapel, are long inscriptions celebrating the King's military exploits. To the right of the black granite doorway, above the inscription, is a relief of Tuthmosis III presenting gifts (two obelisks, vases, necklaces, and chests) to the temple. The rooms on the north and south sides of the Hall of Records, now largely in ruins, were built by Queen Hatshepsut and decorated with reliefs, which were later chiseled out or replaced by the names of Tuthmosis III. Here, too, is a statue of Amenophis II.

 

The Great Festival Temple of Tuthmosis III is entered by the main doorway at the southwest corner, in front of which are the stumps of two 16-sided columns and two statues of the King as Osiris (only the left hand one being preserved complete). From here, turn left through the antechambers into the Great Festival Hall, a five aisled basilica 44 meters long and 16 meters deep. The roof of the three central aisles was borne on two rows of 10 columns and 32 square pillars. The tent pole columns are unique, indicating that the central aisles were conceived by the builder as a large festival tent. The pillars supported together with the side walls, the pentagonal roofing slabs of the lateral aisles, and also additional small pillars and architraves helped to support the roof of the central aisles. The reliefs on the pillars show Tuthmosis III in the presence of the gods. In the hall are numerous torsos of statues, which were found here.

 

At the southwest corner of the hall is the chamber in which the Tablet of Karnak was found - a list of Egyptian rulers from the earliest times down to the 18th Dynasty, now in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. The chamber was probably used for storing the statues of earlier kings, which were borne in procession by the priests. At the north end of the three central aisles are three chapels; in the most westerly is a colossal group of Tuthmosis III between Amun and Mut.

 

To the northeast from here, is a chamber with two pillars, which adjoins a chapel (ruined) with a large granite altar. The central door in the east aisle leads to the three rooms, which have preserved only the lower parts of their walls. On the north side, reached by steps, is a small room, known as the "Botanic Garden," the roof of which was borne on four well-preserved papyrus cluster columns with closed capitals. On the lower part of the walls are representations of plants and animals brought from Syria to Egypt by Tuthmosis III in the 25th year of his reign.

 

Adjoining the south end of the Central Court of the Temple of Amun is a badly ruined court flanked by walls and bounded at the far end by the Seventh Pylon. In this court stood two temples, both demolished during the reign of Tuthmosis III; one dated from the Middle Kingdom, the other was built by Amenophis I. The fine limestone blocks from these temples, decorated with reliefs, were built into the Third Pylon erected by Amenophis III.

 

The Eighth Pylon was built by Queen Hatshepsut and is thus the oldest in the whole temple complex; it is, however, relatively well preserved. Hatshepsut's names were erased from the reliefs by Tuthmosis II. Seti I restored the reliefs after their destruction by Amenophis IV, in many cases inserting his own name in place of those of the earlier kings.