Entrance Ticket To Karnak Temple The temple complex of Karnak is one of the largest temple complexes in the world.It is located 3 kilometers (1.75 miles) to the north of modern day Luxor.It covers an area of 247 acres and it`s name from ancient times was "Ipet-isut", meaning "The Most Select of Places".The largest part of the complex is the temple dedicated to Amun. There are also temple areas dedicated to Mut, goddess wife of Amun, Montu, God of War and local Theban deity of the Old Kingdom, and Khonsu, son of Amun and Mut. Avenue of Cryosphinxes leading to the First Pylon of the Temple of Amun, Karnak. The temple is usually approached through the avenue of Ram headed sphinxes that leads to the First Pylon of the Temple of Amun. Amun was represented by the Ram and was thought to be protecting the reigning pharaoh, by having his head attached to the body of the lion and a statue of the king between it`s paws. Ram headed Sphinxes ( sacred to Amun) at Karnak holding a statue of the Pharaoh between it`s paws. The First Pylon is 40 metres tall, it is 113 metres wide and 15 metres thick. Although this is the largest pylon at Karnak it`s decoration was never completed. On it`s inner side a mud brick ramp, which was used in its construction, can still be seen. It is thought to have been built in the late Ptolemaic era, possibly by the 13th dynasty pharaoh, Nectanebo I. First Pylon of the Temple of Amun at Karnak. It shows the inner side where the remains of the mud-brick ramp still stand, the sphinxes of Rameses II and portico of the Ethiopian courtyard. After the First Pylon has been entered the First Court or Ethiopian Courtyard is reached.Within this courtyard is a IX Dynasty portico of columns with closed papyrus capitals. In front of these are the sphinxes by Rameses II, which were originally designed to flank the entrance to his hypostyle hall. The First Court or Ethiopian Courtyard of the Temple of Amun at Karnak. In the middle of the courtyard stands the only remaining column from the Kiosk of Taharqa, with a capital shaped like an open papyrus. It is 21 metres high and was originally one of ten joined together with a low screen wall. Column of Taharqa in the First Court of the Temple of Amun at Karnak, by David Roberts. Courtesy of Mr Bill Petty of Museum Tours at http:www.museum-tours.com The only remaining column of the 10 original columns erected by Nubian pharaoh Taharqa. To the right of this is the Temple of Ramesses III. The courtyard of the temple has statues of Ramesses III in Osiride style on three sides. Two statues of Rameses III frame the entrance at the temple dedicated to him at Karnak. Inside the Courtyard of the Temple of Ramesses III at Karnak. In front of the Second Pylon were originally two huge statues of Rameses II, of which only the feet remain of one of them. Another statue stands nearby which was originally of Rameses II with his daughter,"Princess Bent`anat", standing between his feet. This statue was claimed by both Rameses VI and later "King" Pinudjem I as their own. This stands 15 meters tall. Statue of Rameses II and his daughter standing between his feet at Karnak. Horemheb began the construction of the 2nd Pylon and the Hypostyle Hall. It was further developed by Seti I and Rameses II and finally completed by Rameses IV. Inside the core of this pylon, small sandstone "talatat" blocks, from a temple built by Akhenaten, have been found. They can now be seen at the Luxor Museum. The pylon is 29.5 metres high and is the entrance to one of the most amazing areas of any Egyptian temple...the Hypostyle Hall. It contains 134 papyrus shaped stone columns. The central 12 are 21 metres tall, with open capitals. 50 people could stand together on the top of the largest open capital columns. Surrounding these are a further 122 smaller columns with closed capitals. The large columns in the centre of the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, with their open capitals. Columns on the outside of the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, with closed capitals. The hypostyle hall once had a roof and was only illuminated by the light that came through the high clerestory windows which were built into the walls. The photograph shows part of the Hypostyle Hall with one of the clerestory windows through which light was allowed into the hall. Outside of the Hypostyle Hall is the one remaining obelisk of the pair originally erected by Tuthmosis I.This is 23 metres tall and weighs 143 tons. This is not the tallest of the Karnak obelisks. This honor goes to the obelisk erected for Queen Hatshepsut.This stands 30 metres high and weighs 200 tons. Obelisk of Tuthmosis I in front of the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak. Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut at Karnak. Beyond the fifth pylon of Tuthmosis I and the seventh pylon of Tuthmosis III, is the Akh-Menu of Tuthmosis III. This is the Festival Hall and is also known as the "Temple of Millions of Years". It consists of a hypostyle hall of two rows of ten columns,and a row of thirty two square pillars.This area was used as a church by the Christians later on. Tuthmosis III`s Festival Hall at Karnak. To the south of the Festival Hall is the "Sacred Lake".This is filled by ground water and provided all the water required for the needs of the temple, including the priest`s ablutions. The Sacred Lake at Karnak. A View Of The Temple Of Amun At Karnak, From The Sacred Lake. Near to the sacred lake is a sculpture of a scarab beetle. It was brought to Karnak from Amenophis III`s mortuary temple on the west bank of Luxor. Inside the chapel of Taharqa, to the north west of the lake, are descriptions detailing the nightly journey of the sun-god through the earth and his rebirth as a scarab beetle each day. Photo of the scarab beetle statue at Karnak. All content on this page unless otherwise specified © Diane Day 2001-2004