The Temple of Karnak

Even now the crumbling walls of the Temple of Karnak have the ability to evoke the name given to it by its ancient creators – the “Ipet- Sut”, or the “Most Select of Places”. This vast complex contains the most outstanding collection of monuments anywhere in Egypt. As one of the largest religious precincts ever built, Karnak served as the main residence and shrine of the god Amun, patriarch to the Egyptian pantheon. Yet, the temple was not the sole preserve of the followers of Amun. During the course of its 1,500 years history, this sacred ground played host to a wide range of Egyptian divinities with its vast array of subsidiary temples chapels and shrines.

As an important religious centre, Karnak rose to prominence with the foundation of a temple by the Middle Kingdom pharaoh, Senwosret I. However, the majority of the surviving buildings date from the New Kingdom. The new line of kings of the 18th dynasty had their roots in Thebes and were therefore particularly keen to promote their close association with Amun, who was both their local god and state god. The site falls into three separate precincts. At the centre, naturally, lies the main temple of Amun. To the south, and connected to the Amun complex by an avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, is the precinct of Mut; whilst to the north is a temple dedicated to the falcon-headed god of war, Montu, the primordial god of Thebes – a god who would eventually be superseded by Amun. The highlight of any visit to Karnak is, without doubt, the Great Hypostyle Hall. Unequalled in terms of scale and beauty, this hypnotizing mass of columns is believed to have been a replica in stone of the primordial marsh from which the first Egyptian temple emerged and the site for the genesis of the universe.

Date of Construction: Middle Kingdom temple of Senwosret I (1974 – 1929 B.C.); Principal monuments date from New Kingdom (16th – 11th centuries B.C.)

Highlights:
Hypostyle Hall of Seti I
Festival Hall of Tuthmosis III
Temple of Ramesses III
“Chapelle Rouge” of Hatshepsut (open-air museum)
Temple of Khonsu
Battle reliefs of Seti I (exterior northern wall of Hypostyle Hall)

Your personal expert guide to The Temple of Karnak: £2.99

 

1. Introduction to the temple - 3:02
2. First Pylon - 0:51
3. Triple Sanctuary of Seti II - 0:51
4. Temple of Ramesses III, Entrance Pylon - 1:56
5. Festival of Min Reliefs - 1:51
6. The Barque Shrines - 0:52
7. The Great Hypostyle Hall - 3:30
8. The Northern Wars of Seti I - 1:17
9. Festival of Opet Reliefs - 0:53
10. Obelisks of Hatshepsut - 1:51
11. The Sixth Pylon and Central Sanctuary - 1:31
12. The Akh-Menu, the Festival Hall of Tuthmosis III - 3:03
13. The Botanical Garden and the Inner Shrine - 1:12
14. Sacred Lake - 1:01
15. Temple of Khonsu - 1:35
16. Chapelle Rouge of Hatshepsut - 2:02
17. The Northern Wars of Seti I, Shasu Campaign - 1:16
18. The Northern Wars of Seti I, Yenoam Campaign - 1:09
19. The Northern Wars of Seti I, Hittite Campaign - 1:04
20. The Northern Wars of Seti I, Libyan Campaign - 1:00
21. The Northern Wars of Seti I, Kadesh/Amurru Campaign - 0:48
22. The Northern Wars of Seti I, Topographical Lists - 1:03
23. The Beautiful Festival of Opet - 3:00
24. The Late 20th Dynasty - 2:09

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