|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
LUXOR Temples at Karnak   Temple of Amon as seen from the roof of the Temple of Khonsu. The 1st Pylon to the far left, then the Temple of Ramses 3 followed b the Great Hypostyle Hall almost at the centre, and the tallest of the two obelisks is one of Hatshepsut's. In front lies the rubble temple structures yet not reconstructed. All is numbered, and comes from all over Karnak. Although most people coming out to Karnak only visit the Temple of Amon, actually believing that it is named Karnak Temple, there is more here. There are 3 main temple enclosures, with the Precinct of Mut and the Precinct of Mentu in addition to Amon's. Inside the Precinct of Amon are several more temples.  For the modern day visitor, it is clearly the Temple of Amon which deserves most of the attention. But if you have time and interest a few of the others are definitely interesting. The best among the lot is the Temple of Khonsu, while the Temple of Ramses 3 is usually visited as was it a part of the Temple of Amon. Interesting also are the Chapels of the Hearing Ear, laid out along the same axis as the Temple of Amon. The Jubilee Temple of Amenophis 2 beyond the 9th Pylon is only of limited interest, while the Temple of Opet, next to the Temple of Khonsu, is closed.Should you walk over to the temples to the south, take a look at the gates, the one in front of the 9th Pylon, marking the beginning of the Avenue of Sphinxes, and the splendid Gateway of Euergetes 2 in front of the Pylon of the Temple of Khonsu.The construction time for the temples at Karnak is no less than 1,300 years. According to reports of the 12th century BCE were there more than 80,000 workers and slaves engaged in the building process here.Styles vary a lot, but they share the same focal point, the Theban triad of gods, the father Amon-Re, mother Mut and their son Khonsu. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
