The greatest temple of Egypt was Karnak, the house of Amun-Ra at Thebes. It follows the temple plan, but many times over, because it grew for two thousand years.
Key idea
Karnak, the temple of Amun at Thebes, grew from the Middle Kingdom to Roman times; an avenue of sphinxes joins it to Luxor Temple, about 3 km to the south.
Why it works
Why did one temple keep growing? Every king wanted to honor Amun, the god who gave him victory, and to leave his name where it would last. Kings added pylons, courts, halls, obelisks and chapels, usually in front of or around what was there, so the oldest parts lie deepest inside. Egyptians called it Ipet-isut, "the most select of places".
| King | What he added |
|---|---|
| Senusret I (Middle Kingdom) | the White Chapel, a small shrine for the god’s boat |
| Hatshepsut | a pair of great obelisks |
| Thutmose III | the Festival Hall (Akh-menu) |
| Seti I and Ramesses II | the Great Hypostyle Hall, with 134 columns |
| Later kings to the Ptolemies | more gates and pylons, and the first pylon |
Luxor Temple, Ipet-resyt, was built mostly by Amenhotep III; Ramesses II added a court, a pylon and a pair of obelisks. One of those obelisks has stood in the Place de la Concorde in Paris since the 1830s. Karnak also held the precincts of Mut, Amun’s wife, to the south and of the war god Montu to the north.
Worked example: Oldest parts deepest
Thutmose III’s Festival Hall lies at the back of Karnak, behind the sanctuary area; the first pylon is at the front. Which is likely older?
- Kings usually added new gates and courts in front.
- So the front pylon is likely later.
- Indeed, the first pylon was built in the Late Period or later.
Answer: The Festival Hall (New Kingdom); the front pylon came last.
Worked example: Counting columns
The Great Hypostyle Hall has 12 giant columns along its center aisle and 122 smaller ones. How many in all?
- 12 + 122 = 134.
Answer: 134 columns.
Common mistake
Thinking Karnak was built all at once. Kings from the Middle Kingdom to the Romans added to it. Quick check: names of many kings, from many dynasties, are carved on its walls.