The Karnak Temple: Egypt's Timeless Marvel

Karnak Temple is an extraordinary complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons, and obelisks dedicated to the Theban triad; but also to the greater glory of pharaohs. It was one of the most sacred sites in ancient Egypt. It is located in Luxor, in the south of Egypt on the east side of the Nile River. In addition to its religious significance; it also served as a treasury, administrative center, and palace for the New Kingdom pharaohs. It is also considered the largest temple complex ever constructed anywhere in the world.

Karnak Temple was also known as I pet-Isu by the ancient Egyptians which means “The Most Select of Places“. It is a temple city that was built over 2000 years ago and dedicated to Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. Some uneducated ancient Egyptians considered this temple, the place of gods. It contains a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings inside. Most buildings there also date back to the new kingdom of Egypt. The area around Karnak was also the main place of worship during the eighteenth dynasty Theban Triad.

Karnak temple is divided into three compounds: the precinct of Amun, the precinct of Mut, and the precinct of Montu; however, for most visitors, the largest of these, the precinct of Amun, is enough. It is a complicated layout alone that dwarfs every other site that you will visit in Egypt.

The complex is dominated by the great Temple of Amun-Ra – one of the world’s largest religious complexes – with its famous hypostyle hall, a spectacular forest of giant papyrus-shaped columns. This main structure is surrounded by the houses of Amun’s wife Mut and their son Khonsu; two other huge temple complexes on this site. On its southern side, the Mut Temple Enclosure was once linked to the main temple by an avenue of ram-headed sphinxes. To the north is the Montu Temple Enclosure, which honored the local Theban war god.

The 3km paved avenue of human-headed sphinxes that once linked the great Temple of Amun at Karnak with Luxor Temple is now again being cleared. Most of what you can see was built by the powerful pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties (1570–1090 BC), who spent fortunes on making their mark in this most sacred of places, which then called Ipet-Sut, meaning ‘The Most Esteemed of Places’. Later pharaohs extended and rebuilt the complex, as did the Ptolemies and early Christians. The further into the complex you venture, the older the structures.

Karnak Sacred Lake

Karnak Temple Sacred Lake is the largest of its kind and was dug by Tuthmosis III (1473-1458 BC). It measures 393 feet (120m) by 252 feet (77m) and is also lined with stone walls and has stairways descending into the water. The lake was used by the priests for ritual washing and ritual navigation. It was also home to the sacred geese of Amun and was a symbol of the primeval waters from which life arose in the ancient Egyptian’s idea of creation.

Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show

Like all of the major sights in Egypt, Karnak has a sound and light show that is offered in several different languages. If you want a far more enjoyable way of getting all of the background details regarding the area, for this reason, you should start your visit to Luxor by attending the Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show. The show focuses on the period in which Luxor is still known as “Thebes”; and served as the ancient religious capital of Egypt. It also covers the history of the many pharaohs who contributed to the development of the complex. Attending the Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show which takes place in the evenings is a really good way to prepare oneself for a visit to the temple the next day.

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