Karnak Temple, located on the east bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt, is one of the largest and most impressive religious complexes in the world. Originally constructed during the reign of Pharaoh Senusret I in the Middle Kingdom (around 1971–1926 BC), the temple was expanded by subsequent pharaohs over nearly 2,000 years, making it a monumental testament to ancient Egyptian architecture and spirituality.

The temple complex is primarily dedicated to Amun, the king of the gods, and includes a vast array of temples, chapels, pylons, and other structures. Its most famous feature is the Great Hypostyle Hall, which boasts 134 massive columns, some reaching over 10 meters in height. The walls of Karnak are adorned with intricate hieroglyphics and reliefs that depict scenes of significant historical and religious events.

Karnak Temple was not only a center for worship but also a place for grand festivals and rituals, particularly the Opet Festival, which celebrated the annual flooding of the Nile and the rejuvenation of the land. Today, it stands as one of Egypt’s most important archaeological sites, attracting millions of visitors each year who come to marvel at its scale, beauty, and the rich history it represents.

The Karnak Temple, also known as the Great Temple of Amun at Karnak, is one of the most famous and important monuments in Luxor. This grand structure is unlike any other in Egypt. It isn’t just a single temple but a massive complex made up of many temples and shrines. Almost all the pharaohs, especially from the New Kingdom, wanted to leave their mark here by recording their names and accomplishments. While most of the temples were built in honor of the god Amun-Ra, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu, there were also smaller shrines dedicated to other gods, like Ptah of Memphis and Osiris of Abydos.

Over time, later pharaohs redesigned parts of the temple, adding new entrances, columns, and buildings. In some cases, they reused blocks from older temples, incorporating them into new constructions.

For example, Pharaoh Amenhotep III’s Third Pylon was built using stones from at least ten earlier temples and shrines. If a temple needed to be removed, whether for design changes, political reasons, or during times of war, it was carefully taken apart and the blocks were sometimes buried for reuse.

The sun temples of Akhenaten met this fate. Their distinct sandstone blocks, known as talataats, were buried beneath Karnak’s hypostyle hall and pylons. Today, Egyptologists are still working to uncover the history of the Karnak Temple through these reused or buried stones.

Luxor is home to some of Egypt’s greatest ancient treasures, and the Karnak Temple is one of its most impressive. The complex is made up of many temples, chapels, and other structures arranged like a village. The name Karnak comes from the Arabic word meaning “fortified village,” reflecting the layout of the site.

Where is the Karnak temple?

The Karnak Temple is located in the city of Karnak, within the Luxor Governorate in southern Egypt, on the eastern side of the Nile River. It’s a key historical site and one of Egypt’s unforgettable landmarks.

When was the Karnak Temple built?

The Karnak Temple was built over a very long time, starting around 2055 BC and continuing until about 100 AD. It was a place of worship for the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. The ancient Egyptians called it “the most precious of places” because it was the biggest and most important religious building ever made.

Who were the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu?

Amun:

Amun, also called Ammon or Amen, was the ancient Egyptian god of the sun and air. He was one of the most important deities, especially during the rise of the New Kingdom (1570 to 1069 BC). Amun was highly revered and played a central role in ancient Egyptian religion.

Mut:

Mut, whose name means “mother,” was worshipped as the mother goddess in ancient Egypt. She was seen as the mother of everything, and some believed she was the mother of Khonsu, the moon god. She was a powerful and nurturing figure in Egyptian mythology.

Khonsu:

Khonsu was the god of the moon and was considered the son of Mut. His name means “traveler,” representing the journey of the moon across the sky. He was an important figure in Egyptian mythology, often associated with time and healing.

The Karnak Temple was incredibly important during the New Kingdom, especially when Thebes (modern-day Luxor) was the center of power in ancient Egypt. Its importance is reflected in its massive size, making it the largest temple complex ever built.

Beyond its religious role, the Karnak Temple also functioned as a treasury, an administrative center, and even a palace for the pharaohs of the New Kingdom. The complex grew over 1,500 years, with each generation of pharaohs adding temples, shrines, pylons, and other decorations, making it a unique and unmatched site in Egypt.

Though the New Kingdom, and rulers like Hatshepsut, Tuthmosis III, Seti I, and Ramesses II, were responsible for many of the major additions, the temple continued to expand into the Greco-Roman period. The Ptolemies, Romans, and even early Christians also left their mark on this incredible structure.

Temple of Ramesses III

This small temple, designed and built during the lifetime of a single pharaoh, is a typical New Kingdom temple. It consists of an entrance pylon with two towers flanked by statues, a central door leading to an open courtyard (surrounded by colonnades) and a covered terrace at the rear. From the terrace a door leads to the Hypostyle Hall which is covered by a roof: the difference in height between the central and lateral columns is made up of square pillars that let light into thean otherwise dark hall. Beyond is the Sanctuary, or Holy of Holies, where the sacred statue of the god was kept. In this temple there were three sanctuaries, for Amun, Mut and Khonsu.

In a typical temple, the floor progressively rises and the roof lowers from the entrance to the sanctuary, this is symbolic of the primordial hill rising from the eternal ocean. The temple also becomes progressively darker, from the open courtyard to the inner sanctuary: from the known to the mysterious. Only the pharaoh, or the high priest in his stead, was allowed to enter the dark sanctuary and gaze upon the statue of the god.

The Great Hypostyle Hall

The Great Hypostyle Hall is a very large room inside the Temple of Karnak. It has 134 columns arranged in 16 rows, covering an area of 4,983 square meters. It is the largest single room in any temple in the world. The central columns are taller than the side columns, and they have smooth shafts that reach a height of 21 meters. The top part of the columns is shaped like a chalice and still has some of its original color. The side columns are shorter and have bud-shaped capitals. The difference in height is made up for by square pilasters between the roof steps, which provided the only light when the hall had its original roof.

The Hypostyle Hall was decorated with reliefs and inscriptions showing the worship of deities, especially Amun-Ra. Seti I, a pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty, was responsible for the northern half of the hall, while Ramesses II built the southern part. Many other pharaohs of the Nineteenth Dynasty also recorded their names there.

There are several important historical reliefs on the outside of the Hypostyle Hall. On the southern wall, there is a story about Ramesses II’s Battle of Kadesh, which includes the actual text of the treaty with the Hittites. On the north wall, there are scenes of Seti I’s battles in Lebanon, southern Palestine, and Syria. In one scene, Seti I is shown in his chariot shooting arrows at the enemy. Some of the conquered people take refuge in a fortress surrounded by water. In another scene, Seti I is shown tying up prisoners, marching behind his chariot dragging prisoners, and leading captured Syrians to the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu.

On the bottom row of the north wall, there is a scene of a triumphal march through Palestine. Seti I is standing in his chariot, and the princes of Palestine are honoring him with raised arms.

The Karnak Temple Complex is divided into three parts: the enclosure of Amun, the enclosure of Mut, and the enclosure of Montu. Most visitors only visit the enclosure of Amun, which is the largest part of the complex. It is a very complicated place that is much more impressive than any other place you will visit in Egypt.

The enclosure of Amun contains all of the most famous parts of the Karnak complex, including the Great Hypostyle Hall. This hall is made up of 134 huge columns and is one of the most impressive sights in all of Egypt. It is almost impossible to describe all of the different elements that make up the complex, so it is best to let a tour guide explain them to you while you admire the sights.

We suggest that you take your time to explore this enormous complex and admire the many impressive attractions within. Imagine how impressive it must have been over 2,000 years ago when these enormous structures were first built.

Like all major attractions in Egypt, Karnak has a light and sound show offered in several languages. The show takes place 3 times a night, but you should check with your tour guide or hotel for the languages ​​of the various projections.

Karnak Temple

Wadjet Hall

The Wadjet Hall was first constructed by Thutmose I between the fourth and fifth pylons, near the main sanctuary. The hall measures approximately 246 feet by 46 feet and was used for the king’s coronation and the heb-sed festival.

The heb-sed festival typically occurred 30 years after a king’s ascension to the throne and then every three years thereafter. During this festival, the king would run around a heb-sed court, showcasing feats of strength to demonstrate his ability to continue ruling Egypt.

The Great Hypostyle Hall

The Great Hypostyle Hall, built by King Seti, is perhaps the most remarkable building in Karnak. It is situated to the west of the main sanctuary, along the main entrance. The building measures approximately 337 feet by 170 feet and contains a total of 134 columns. The largest twelve columns are 70 feet high and support the central part of the structure, while the other 122 columns are about 40 feet tall.

On the outer walls are scenes depicting Seti and his successor, Ramesses II, defeating their enemies from Libya, Syria, and the Levant. Shortly after its construction, the hall became the site of coronation and heb-sed ceremonies, replacing the Wadjet Hall.

The Pylons of Karnak

Starting in the New Kingdom and extending through the following centuries, Egyptian rulers gradually constructed a series of 10 pylons at Karnak. These pylons served as gateways and were connected to each other by a network of walls. The pylons were often adorned with scenes depicting the ruler who built them.

At Karnak, the pylons begin near the main sanctuary and run in two different directions. One set of six pylons faces west toward the Nile River and ends in an entrance flanked by an avenue of small sphinxes, while the other set of four pylons faces south along a processional ro