The Magnificent Karnak Temple Complex
Indeed, if you have ever heard of Karnak, you would think that it is a simply one temple at Luxor. But that couldn’t be further from the truth as Karnak is, as seen in the title, a vast magnificent structural complex comprising temples, pylons, chapels, and various other structures built at different points of time spanning centuries. Every Itinerary in Royal Black Tours or any Egypt African culture tour does and should always include this beautiful monument among its destination plans.
General Info.
The Temple complex construction began during the reign of king Senusret I (1971–1926 BCE) in the Middle Kingdom (2000–1700 BCE) and extended into the Ptolemaic Kingdom (305–30 BCE), nevertheless most of the existing buildings are from the New Kingdom.
Known in ancient times as Ipet-isut, meaning “The Most Selected of Places,” Karnak was the principal place of worship for the Theban Triad, particularly the god Amun (the god of wind later known as Amon-Ra, the creator, solar, and fertility Ra), during the 18th Dynasty. It is part of the ancient city of Thebes, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
History:
The history of the Karnak complex is deeply connected to the changing cultural significance of Thebes. As the capitals of unified Egypt shifted, the prominence of religious centers in those regions increased.
Before the Eleventh Dynasty, Thebes was not particularly significant, with its early temple constructions being relatively small and dedicated to deities like the Earth goddess Mut and Montu.
These early structures were often destroyed by invaders. The earliest artifact found in the temple area is an eight-sided column from the Eleventh Dynasty, mentioning Amun-Re. Amun, sometimes called Amen, was the local deity of Thebes, associated with the ram and the goose, and his name means “hidden” or “the hidden god.”
Major construction in the Precinct of Amun-Re occurred during the Eighteenth Dynasty when Thebes became Egypt’s capital. Nearly every pharaoh of this dynasty added to the temple complex.
Thutmose, I built an enclosure wall connecting the Fourth and Fifth pylons, the oldest parts of the temple still standing. Hatshepsut added monuments and restored the original Precinct of Mut, damaged by the Hyksos.
She erected twin obelisks at the temple’s entrance, one of which still stands as the second-tallest ancient obelisk; the other is toppled and broken.
Hatshepsut also commissioned Karnak’s Red Chapel (Chapelle Rouge) as a barque shrine, possibly situated between her obelisks. She later ordered two more obelisks for her sixteenth year as pharaoh; one broke during construction, prompting the creation of a third. The broken obelisk, known as the unfinished obelisk, remains in its quarry in Aswan, providing insight into ancient quarrying techniques.
The Great Hypostyle Hall’s construction may have started during the Eighteenth Dynasty, with most of the work done under Seti I and Ramesses II in the Nineteenth.
Merneptah of the Nineteenth Dynasty recorded his victories over the Sea Peoples on the Cachette Court walls, marking the start of the processional route (Avenue of Sphinxes) to the Luxor Temple.
The last major addition to the Precinct of Amun-Re was the First Pylon and the surrounding massive enclosure walls, built by Nectanebo I of the Thirtieth Dynasty.
In 323 AD, Roman Emperor Constantine the Great recognized Christianity, and in 356 AD, Constantius II ordered the closure of pagan temples across the Roman Empire, including Egypt, annexed in 30 BC.
By this time, Karnak was largely abandoned, and Christian churches were established among the ruins. Notably, the Festival Hall of Thutmose III was repurposed, with saintly decorations and Coptic inscriptions still visible today.
This concise history of Karnak illustrates its transformation from a modest site to a significant religious center, reflecting the broader cultural shifts within ancient Egypt.
General Layout and famous buildings
Precinct of Amun-Re
The Precinct of Amun-Re is the largest section of the Karnak temple complex, dedicated to Amun-Re, the primary god of the Theban Triad. This precinct features several colossal statues, including a 10.5-meter (34 ft) tall figure of Pinedjem I. The sandstone used for the temple and its columns was transported from Gebel Silsila, located 100 miles (161 km) south along the Nile River. One of the precinct’s highlights is a massive obelisk that stands 29 meters (95 ft) tall and weighs 328 tons.
Precinct of Mut
south of the newer Amun-Re complex, the Precinct of Mut is dedicated to the mother goddess Mut, who was identified as the wife of Amun-Re in the Theban Triad during the Eighteenth Dynasty. This precinct includes several smaller temples and features a crescent-shaped sacred lake. Over time, many parts of the temple were repurposed for other constructions. However, extensive excavation and restoration efforts by archeologists, have made the Precinct of Mut accessible to the public. Notably, 600 black granite statues were discovered in the temple’s courtyard, suggesting it may be the oldest part of the site.
In 2006, findings were shared about a festival involving intentional overindulgence in alcohol, with records indicating participation by priestesses and the general population. Historical accounts suggest tens of thousands attended this festival, which took place in the temple of Mut.
As Thebes gained prominence, Mut absorbed attributes of warrior goddesses like Sekhmet and Bast, evolving into Mut-Wadjet-Bast, then Mut-Sekhmet-Bast, and eventually Mut-Sekhmet-Bast-Menhit and Mut-Nekhbet.
Excavations at Luxor uncovered a “porch of drunkenness” added to the temple by Pharaoh Hatshepsut during her reign.
This addition relates to a myth about the annual Sekhmet festival, where Ra, the sun god, created Sekhmet to punish rebellious mortals. Sekhmet’s bloodlust nearly annihilated humanity, prompting Ra to trick her by turning the Nile red with beer mixed with pomegranate juice, mimicking blood.
Sekhmet drank the mixture, became intoxicated, and transformed into the gentler Hathor. This myth reflects the complex interweaving of deities over millennia in ancient Egyptian culture.
Precinct of Montu
The Precinct of Montu, dedicated to the war-God Montu, the son of Mut and Amun-Re, is situated to the north of the Amun-Re complex. This area is significantly smaller and is not accessible to the public.
Temple of Amenhotep IV
The Temple of Amenhotep IV, constructed by Akhenaten, was located east of the main complex, beyond the Amun-Re precinct walls. This temple was completely dismantled after Akhenaten’s death due to his attempts to diminish the influence of the powerful priesthood that had dominated Egypt before his reign.
The destruction was so complete that the temple’s exact layout and extent are still unknown. After Akhenaten’s death, the priesthood quickly regained their authority and were instrumental in obliterating many records of his rule.