Luxor Top Attractions

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Karnak temple in Luxor is the biggest temple complex in the world; broke the score of so many elements and sizes, each part of the temple was built by many kings from the new Egyptian kingdom. The oldest part of the temple dates back to the time of King Mentohotep NebhepetRa the founder of the middle ancient Egyptian kingdom, he was the 9^th king of the dynasty he belonged to, however he is considered the founder of a kingdom as he reunited the two lands of Egypt again into one country (2061 BC – 2010 BC).

The Ptolomies shared building parts and renewing others in this temple, even Alexander the great and his brother paid a lot of attention to Karnak temples.

The temple was once attached to the Nile through the Sphinxes Avenue which is still partly exists.

It worth mentioning the contents of an ancient Egyptian temple when speaking about Karnak as visitors see many temples inside and that would help you recognize each single temple of Karnak complex.

The ancient Egyptian temple consists of:

1-An open courtyard (the biggest part of the temple)

2-the first pylon (consists of two separate parts)

3-Colonade (a courtyard surrounded by columns)

4-the second pylon (also consists of two parts)

5-the hypostyle hall (a hall with many columns. Ceiled in most temples)

6-the third pylon (two parts)

7-the appearance hall (where priests believed to appear)

8-the sanctuary (the holy of the holies)

The biggest temple in Karnak complex that can be easily recognized is the great temple of Amun which is directly led to from the main entrance of the complex.That temple was built by the kings of the new kingdom, like king ramses II, king Seti I, Tutankhamun, and even Queen Hatshepsut added two huge obelisks to the great Amun temple at Karnak.

The holy of the holies of that big temple at Karnak was originally built by king Thotmouses III

Whom he was a great king with a remarkable sense of humor and special relationship with the Egyptian people that he permitted the common locals to see the back of the sanctuary by erecting the Akh Meno hall of celebrations.

The same king Thotmouses III dug the sacred lake to help people do purification before performing the daily prayer.

Tip:

The material used for building all the ancient Egyptian great temples including those were built by the Greeks is sand stone, the exception is the modern looking temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the temple of king Seti at Abydos were built out of Lime stone, then inside every single temple there might be some elements made out of different materials and stones like Granite stone.