What is Karnak?

Coordinates: Karnak (Arabic الكرنك El-Karnak, in ancient Egypt was named Ipet Sut, "the most venerated place") is a small village in Egypt, located on the banks of the River Nile some 2.5 km north of Luxor. Visitors to the area – particularly foreign tourists – perceive no distinction between Luxor and al-Karnak, as the two are both parts of the same conurbation (see the map).

The Karnak Temple is twice the size of the built-up village area, and it is the leading attraction in al-Karnak; essentially this is al-Karnak, as the term Karnak is nearly universally understood as the temple complex and not the village.

Overview

The temple area is a vast open-air museum and the largest ancient religious site in the world. It is probably the second most visited historical site in Egypt, second only to the Giza Pyramids near Cairo.

It consists of four main parts, of which only one is accessible for tourists and the general public. This is also the "main" temple part and by far the largest part. The term Karnak, often is misunderstood as being the Precinct of Amon-Re only, as this is the only part most visitors normally see. The three other parts, although more ancient, are closed to the public.

There also are a few smaller temples and sanctuaries located outside the enclosing walls of the four main parts, as well as several avenues of ram-headed sphinxes connecting the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Amon-Re, and Luxor Temple.

The key difference between Karnak and most of the other temples and sites in Egypt is the length of time over which it was developed and used. Construction work began in the 16th century BC. Approximately thirty pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity, and diversity not seen elsewhere. Few of the individual features of Karnak are unique, but the size and number of features are overwhelming. Construction of temples started in the Middle Kingdom and continued through to Ptolemaic times.

Precinct of Amun-Re

Main article: Precinct of Amun-Re

This is the largest of the precincts of the temple complex, and is dedicated to Amun-Ra, the chief god of the Theban Triad.

Precinct of Montu

Main article: Precinct of Montu

Dedicated to the son of Amun-Re and Mut, Montu, the war-god of the Theban Triad. It is located to the north of the Amun-Re complex, and is much smaller in size. It is not open to the public.

Precinct of Mut

Main article: Precinct of Mut

Located to the south of the Amen-Re complex, this precinct was dedicated to the mother goddess, of the Theban Triad, Mut. It has several smaller temples associated with it, and has its own sacred lake. It has been ravaged, many portions having been used in other structures. It is not open to the public.

Temple of Amenhotep IV (dismantled)

Main article: Temple of Amenhotep IV

The temple that Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) constructed on site was located to the east of the main complex, outside the walls of the Amun-Re precinct. It was destroyed after the death of its builder, and its full extent and lay-out is currently unknown.

Images of Karnak

			Obelisk, Karnak Temple, Egypt
Karnak Temple, Egypt	Karnak Temple, Luxor	Karnak Temple, Luxor	Night at Karnak Temple
Karnak c. 1858, by Francis Frith

External links

• Karnak: Temple of Amun – Bible History Online, 2004.
• Centre franco-égyptien d'étude des temples de Karnak (in French)
• Photographs of Karnak Temple – GlobalAmity.net
• Karnak 3D :: Detailed 3D-reconstruction of the Great Temple of Amun at Karnak. (in Spanish) – Marc Mateos, 2007.

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