The Temple of Amun

See the Feature Article on the Temple of Amun

Prior to entering the Temple of Amun, there is a long row of cult statutes called the Avenue of Sphinxese. Each statue is a seated sphinx with the king standing under its paws beneath its chin. It is the ram of the god Amun assimilated to the solar symbol of the lion.

The temple main entrance is beside the Nile. An outer pylon that has a majestic view is at the main entrance door. This pylon is the last one built in the temple. Egyptians believed that temples are live growing things, like seeds. Karnak temple is a solid example of this belief. Kings added to the temple for centuries in order to keep it growing. This mighty outer pylon was built during the 30th dynasty of the late kingdom. The pylon was not finished but gives an example of under construction phases in ancient Egyptian engineering style.

Passing through the outer pylon to the left is a small triple shrine built by king Seti II. It was built nearly one thousand years earlier than the outer pylon. The triple shrine is dedicated to worship the three mighty gods of Thebes whom are Amun, Mut and Khonsu. The shrine shows Amun in the center in two of his forms. The artists portrayed Amun in his human form wearing the double crowns of plumes. He is also pictured as a ram wearing a crown that symbolizes the sun disk.

The ruins of the double colonnade is situated around the center of the Great Court. These were built by the Nubian (Kushite) King Taharqa. Fortunately one of the columns is still intact. The colonnade consists of two rows with five columns. Each column consists of twenty five courses of stones. Also, each capital consists of five stone courses. The double colonnade is a perfect example of how ancient Egyptians used mathematics in their unique method of architecture.

The Temple of Amun is a small temple located on the far left side of the Great Court. It is a well preserved temple that was built by Ramesses III. The drawings of the entrance portrays Ramesses forces overwhelming his enemies and receiving blessings from Amun. The left wall of the temple has a magnificent drawing of Amun offering the king Ramesses III three rows of vanquished cities depicted as human forms rising from symbolic fortresses.

The central court contains interesting square columns integrating colossal statues as Osiris. After the central court is a small hall that has large columns shaped as papyrus buds. At the end are drawings that feature the three mighty gods of Thebes Amun, Mut and Khonsu. On the far right side of the Central Court, there is a portico inside a cut in the wall. It records the deeds of the kings of the 22nd Dynasty who assumed power after the Third Intermediate Period troubles. It was the triumphal monument of Shoshenq the 1st over Rehoboam, son of king Solomon.

Various Section of the Temple

• The Approach to the First Pylon (Western)

• The First Courtyard in the Temple of Amun, Karnak

• The Great Hypostyle Hall

  Part One, An Overview and the Exterior Walls

  Part Two: The Columns

  The Interior Walls

• The Obelisk Courtyard (Between the Third and Fourth Pylons)

• The Hypostyle Court of the Temple Proper

• The Temple of Tuthmosis III

• The Southern Pylons

• The Temple of Opet

• The Temple of Khonsu

• The Temple of the Hearing Ear

• The Tomb of Sennuten

• The Temple of Ptolemy IV

• The Tomb of Inherkau

See the Feature Article on the Temple of Amun

Last Updated: Aug 4th, 2011