The Temple of Karnak

While the Temple of Karnak might be the largest temple in the world, the site is actually hosted to a group of temples, including the Great Temple of Amon Ra, The Temple of Khonso, The Ipt Temple, The Temple of Ptah, the Temple of Montho and the Temple of the God Osiris. A 20m high, mud brick enclosure wall surrounds all of these buildings. It is as if you are walking through a city built of temples and it is quite an amazing feeling to stroll through them. You can feel the ancient history. It is alive, as it swirls around you.

This great Temple of Amon Ra was known during the Middle Kingdom period as Ipt-Swt, which means the Selected Spot. It was also called Pr-Imn, or the House of Amon. The name Al-Karnak in Arabic was derived from Karnak, which means fortified village, probably because the Arabs found many temples and buildings in the area when they entered it for the first time.

On your way towards the entrance, you will find a ram-headed avenue of Sphinxes, which was built to protect the Temple. There are 20 rams on each side, extending from the small harbor to the 1st Pylon, which was built during the time of King Nektanebo I (30th Dynasty). They still look down upon those who traverse the space they guard. As you cross this pylon, it takes you into an open court, of about 100m by 80m, built during the 22nd Dynasty, and containing rows of bud papyrus columns.

In the middle of the 1st open court is a huge column, 21m high, with a bud papyrus capital. This part is known as the kiosk of Taharqa, who ruled during the 25th Dynasty. This is the only column left from a colonnade that once had 10 columns.

On the left side of the court are 3 chapels built by King Seti II for the “Triad of Thebes”. On the right side is the Temple of Ramses III, consisting of a small pylon, an open court, and Hypostyle hall, leading to the sanctuary.

Horemheb built the 2nd Pylon during the 18th Dynasty, though it is now badly damaged. Ramses I, the founder of the 19th Dynasty, later completed it. Passing the 2nd Pylon, we enter the Great Hypostyle Hall, which measures 103m in length and 52m in width. It contains 134 papyrus columns; each column is about 22m in height and 3.5m in diameter. Amenhotep III built it and Ramses I, Seti I, and Ramses II decorated it, while King Seti I erected the other 122 columns in 14 rows.
The ceiling in the center is higher than the laterals, and it allows light into this spot, which was why it was used as the processional avenue of the triad during the festival of the Opet. The scenes of the Hypostyle Hall represent King Seti I, in front of different deities, making offerings, while the southern wall is decorated with scenes of Ramses II, making offerings to the different deities or worshipping the Triad of Thebes.

The Hypostyle Hall leads to The 3rd Pylon, built by Amenhotep III. It is truly remarkable that stones from previous periods, such as the marble alabaster of Amenhotep I,  were found encrusted in the pylon!

Crossing the 3rd Pylon, you come to an open, rectangular court, which is known as the Court of Tuthmosis I. In this court, Tuthmosis I erected 2 obelisks, this is thought to be the area that was used as the main entrance of the Temple during his reign. Unfortunately, only one obelisk has survived: it is currently 19m high and around 310 tons in weight.

From the Court of Tuthmosis, we reach the 4th Pylon, which Tuthmosis I also built; beyond this is a rectangular colonnade, which he built as well. When Hatshepsut ascended to the throne she built 2 obelisks in that colonnade, the left one is still in its original position: 29.5m in height, 322 tons in weight and made of red granite! Red granite, have you ever seen such a thing?

After the death of Queen Hatshepsut, King Tuthmosis III built a high, long wall around these 2 obelisks to hide them. However, some wonder, why hide them and not tear them down?

The 5th Pylon, yet again built by Tuthmosis I, is damaged and on both sides of the entrance, although Tuthmosis III built two small rooms when it was his turn.

The 6th Pylon was built by Tuthmosis III. Beyond this pylon, Tuthmosis III built his stunning, famous hall, the Ancestral Room. The original Sanctuary was built by Tuthmosis III, but Philip Arrhidaeus, the half-brother of Alexander the Great, later rebuilt it.

The granite sanctuary was dedicated to the sacred boat of Amon Ra. Behind the sanctuary, you will see a court, dating back to the time of the Middle Kingdom. It is a wide-open courtyard that is badly damaged now. It is believed that this spot was the site of an old Temple, dating back to the time of the Middle Kingdom: the origin of the Karnak Temple.

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge

At the end of the Middle Kingdom Courtyard, is another Hall, known as the Akh-Mnw or the Festival Hall of Tuthmosis III. The hall in the north is called The Botanical Room. It is so beautiful, with the walls decorated with scenes of plants, animals, and birds, which were brought from Syria to Egypt, by the current king.

Now, we shall go back through the temple until we reach the start again.

Left of the Court of Tuthmosis 1 ( constructed between the 4th and 3rd Pylons) is a courtyard, which is located in front of the 7th Pylon. In 1902, the French Egyptologist Georges Legrain (1865–1917) discovered a very precious collection of statues hidden in the ground of this court, which we now know as the Court of the Cachet. The 7th Pylon, which is badly damaged, was also built by Tuthmosis III.

Crossing the 7th Pylon to the court beyond, you will see 2 statues of Ramses II and Tuthmosis III.

The 8th Pylon was built by Hatshepsut, decorated by Tuthmosis III, and restored by Seti I. The scenes on the façade of the Pylon represent Hatshepsut with different deities, and a religious scene featuring Tuthmosis III.

On the left side of the Court, between the 9th and 10th Pylons, are the remains of the Heb-Sed Shrine, which was built by Amenhotep II and decorated by Seti I.

The 9th Pylon, which was built by Horemheb, is badly damaged. A large number of bricks were found inside, which had been used as the Pylon’s filling. They belonged to the Aton Temple, which was built by Amenhotep VI (Akhenaten) in the 18th Dynasty and destroyed by later kings who wanted to eliminate all traces of the “heretic” King.

Finally, we reach the 10th Pylon, damaged as well, and again built by King Horemheb. In front of this Pylon, there are the remains an avenue of Sphinxes, built by Horemheb, and extending to the gate of Ptolemy II in front of Mut Temple.

Before leaving the Temple of Amon Ra at Karnak you must visit the Sacred Lake, which goes back to the time of Tuthmosis III. It measures 80m in length and 40m in width. Near the Sacred Lake, there is a scarab, which is considered the biggest scarab left from Ancient Egypt, dating from the reign of Amenhotep III. The Ancient Egyptians called the scarab, Khebry, and it was the symbol of the Sun God. The word itself means to create; it was thought to bring to the sun in the early morning. Can you imagine stepping out, and looking over the lake, as you drink a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise?

While you are in Luxor, we suggest that you attend the marvelous Sound and Light show at the Temple of Karnak.

Listed below you will find the Sound and Light show schedule.

Ticket fees

65 EGP

250 EGP

250 EGP

* only valid at mid year holidays 31 Jan to 10 Feb 2019

You may Book your sound and light show tickets  here: