Luxor, Egypt, Karnak The Precinct of Amun

The Precinct of Amun, Karnak is dedicated to Amun, the principle god of the Theban Triad. It was begun in the Twenty-Second Dynasty and every succeeding Pharaoh added to it. The Temple was supported by pious gifts of land whose proceeds benefited the Temple, and by the time of Akhenaten, the priesthood of Amun was very powerful.

The abandonment of Amun and the city of Thebes by Akhenaten may have been an effort to weaken the political power of the priesthood, as well as an ideological decision.

This 1880 drawing shows an artist's impression of the hypostyle hall of columns with the roof intact.

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	Entrance to Karnak. Click on the picture to see it full screen.
	View of the complex from the back. Note the obelisks, the furthermost one being one of the famous obelisks of Hatshepsut. Click on picture for a full screen view.

The site is difficult to comprehend as it is not a single temple. It has grown from an initial core, with each succeeding Pharaoh adding another court or temple, and tearing down others. Their was a temple at Karnak in the Old Kingdom.

Amun became the most important Egyptian God when the hereditary rulers of the nome at Thebes reunified Egypt by defeating the Hyksos, founding the New Kingdom Dynasty.

Karnak is a "must see" for any tour of Egypt. We suggest at least two visits. You should take a morning and wander through the site soaking up the atmosphere, and then you should consult your hotel and book tickets for one of the Sound and Light shows.

Karnak at night has an entirely different feeling. The shows are in a different language each night, so you must adjust your schedule to get the correct one for you. We found the Sound and Light show very informative, if a little long.

Wear or bring a wrap, and don't forget the insect repellent. I would also recommend that you bring a small flashlight in case you need to leave early.

Then, you might like to return for a third visit after you visit the Valley of the Kings and try to relate the various pharaohs to the portions they built.

Details of Karnak are shown below. Click on the pictures to see them full sized.

Details bottom

		Ram-headed sphinxes which line the entrance to Karnak.			A colossal statue of Ramesses III standing before a pylon. The artistic style is reminiscent of the statuary from Tutankhamun's tomb.
		Ram headed sphinx.			A reconstructed statue in the Hypostyle Hall.
		Toward the Second Pylon and the great hypostyle hall beyond. middle			A small shrine outside the Temple of Amun. end
		Ramesses II and the Princess Bent'anta. This statue has been "recycled" from its original owner, probably Ramesses II, to be first claimed by Ramesses VI and finally by Pinedjem I. The striding feet to its left belong to Ramesses II.			The Sacred Lake.
		Columns of the Hypostyle Hall. between			Scarab statue beside the Sacred Lake.
		The top of a station platform for the procession of the statue of Ramesses I. The enemies of the King are depicted on the stone, there to be perpetually beneath his feet.			"Back Gate" .
		Pharaoh statues lining a courtyard.