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.
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. Instead of placing items within the
complex on a diagram, we have chosen just to show you the
"sights". Their historical significance being
overshadowed by their magnificence and beauty.
Since we have visited, a
great deal of reconstruction has taken place.
Details of Karnak
are shown below. Click on the pictures to see them full
sized.
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 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.