Precinct of Amun-Re

The temple of Amun -Re is the central part of Amun at Karnak District, which, in turn the center of a larger complex of religious buildings, the Karnak temple forms. Since the 18th Dynasty pharaohs built continuously on and around, trying to outdo each other.

• 3.1 Middle Kingdom
• 3.2 New Kingdom 3.2.1 18th dynasty
• 3.2.2 20th Dynasty

• 3.3.1 22 Dynasty
• 3.3.2 25th dynasty

• 3.4.1 30th Dynasty

The temple

With a total of ten pylons, the largest about 113 feet wide and about 15 meters thick at a planned height of about 45 meters, and a total area of ​​approximately 30 hectares (530, 515, 530 and 610 -meter sides ) is the Temple of Amun- Re is the largest temple in Egypt. It contained the temple of Amun -Re still the temple of Khonsu, Temple of Opet, the temple of Ptah, the Temple of Amenhotep II and various station chapels to the gods bark, such as the White Chapel and Red Chapel.

In ancient times, linking an avenue that was lined on both sides by 365 sphinxes, the temple of Amun with the 2.5 km distant Luxor Temple. This road ended on 10 pylon of the temple.

Another avenue of sphinxes with two rows of 66 sphinxes connecting the Temple of Amun with the courage District. There is a Nilhafen, with the statue of the Virgin was able to visit the West Bank on the northwest side. Behind the entrance pylon of the temple opens to a large courtyard. Behind the Hall of Columns ( hypostyle ) joins. In continuation of the axis to get to the Holy of Holies. These areas were covered. The temple was also constructed so that the floor in the direction of the Blessed Sacrament, and ascending the roof was falling. The hypostyle hall behind the farm is one of the most important buildings, which are obtained from Egyptian time.

Many parts by time or by the pharaohs themselves as part of a damnatio memoriae ( " condemnation of memories " ) have been destroyed. Even today, with bleached ruins of Karnak temple is an overwhelming sight.

II pylon

Built by Horemheb second pylon made ​​from the end of the 18th dynasty until the time of Nectanebo I. the front entrance of the temple. Since the beginning of the 18th dynasty was located at the site serving as a landing dock that fill up Horemheb and further let create new west. The two once 14 meters high and 35 meters high pylon towers have been preserved only up to half of their height. For the building blocks of the demolished Aton temple of Pharaoh Akhenaten (eg Gem -pa - Aten ) was used as filler.

Before the entrance were two monumental statues of granite, of which only the southern one is completely preserved. It shows the king with the double crown in Schreitpose. From the other exists only the base socket with the feet. Inside the Tordurchgangs stood two statues of gods. Henri Chevrier discovered in 1954 at cleaning up the collapsed north wing all the fragments of a colossal statue of red granite. The 13 meter high statue was re-erected and probably shows Ramses II, his daughter, wife Meritamun stands between his legs.

IV and V. pylon

The overall view of the temple was first radically changed after the Middle Kingdom by the Thutmosiden. Thutmose I had to create a new input situation, create the fourth and fifth pylon in the OW axis. In between there was a hypostyle hall, which was supported by a wooden ceiling, the papyrus bundle columns ( which were covered with electrum ). This design was lifted from his daughter Hatshepsut again as she had erected their two obelisks between the fourth and fifth pylon and 've got to break through the wooden ceiling. It is the largest obelisks which were in Egypt ever erected (H: 32 m ) and they had tips that were provided with electron ( according to ancient sources they were completely covered with electron). But only one of them is still in situ, while the other is broken into several parts (the rest you can now close to the Holy See the public).

VII pylon

Thutmose III. decided the procession axis in the south to turn and was built by the Seventh Pylon towards courage sanctuary. Were It consisted of a 13 cm high granite portal in front of the colossal figures on both sides of the king placed on the pedestals names of conquered peoples ( in the East Asians in the West Africans ) had. Previously, two large obelisks were erected, of which only one base site but is visible as the other 357 AD. were transported by Emperor Constantius II to Constantinople Opel. Even the earth dam, which was built for transportation is still visible today. It was also found that it is in the design of the Seventh Pylon is a copy of the Fourth Pylon, so you vorfand in major and minor axis, the same representations ( just as in the Tordurchgängen -> anniversary of the King).

VIII pylon

Already under Hatshepsut VIII pylon was erected, probably an older predecessor of Nilschlammziegeln replaced (possibly Amenhotep I ). In the lower area, he was surrounded by a low limestone wall. Relief Decorations: Interior facade ( east side ): Thutmosis I would like to thank Amun for the enthronement of his daughter Hatshepsut ( inscriptions are hacked, name of Hatshepsut by Thutmose II replaced) Facade: Amenhotep II at the " slaying of the enemies " before Amun, largely destroyed Hatschesputinschrift

Plastic jewelry before pylon It is likely that the original six seated figures were before the pylon, of which only the bases are obtained from two ( Thutmose II, Thutmose III restored. ). While on the other two figures in front of the east wing Nothing remains, stands in front of the west wing nor a seated statue of Amenhotep i ( restored by Thutmose III. ) And a fragmentary of Amenhotep II ( restored by Thutmose IV ). The plan was that this pylon of the actual entrance to the temple from the south would be, as evidenced by the inscriptions in the niches of the flagpoles of Amenhotep II.

The purpose of the temple complex

According to the survey Amun- res of Thebes to the local god, and later to the Kingdom of God, the ruler of the early Middle Kingdom began with the construction of a temple, which was expanded over thousands of years to the present temple complex where the Amun priesthood exercised the daily Temple service. Also for the wife of Amun, the goddess Mut, and their son Khonsu for temples were built, together they formed the triad of Thebes.

Architectural History

Middle Kingdom

The previous oldest discovered component in the Amun District of Karnak is an octagonal pillar of Antef II with the entry of the god Amun -Re.

Sesostris I built the first major temple made ​​of limestone. He measured 37.4 × 39.6 m and was surrounded by an enclosure wall made ​​of bricks. Itself statue pillars were at the front, the front part of the temple was surrounded by porticoes. According to Arnold, was located there to be a sacred garden. In the back three successive cult chambers were located. Within the enclosure there were several station chapels, including the Chapelle blanche ( White Chapel ).

New Kingdom

18th Dynasty

At the beginning of the 18th dynasty, the cult center of Amun has been greatly expanded, starting with Amenhotep I.. Thutmosis I added pylon 4 and 5, a shell-like enclosure and a 21.8 m high obelisk pair. Thutmose II built the west to the so-called Festhof. Larger construction projects, there was again under Hatshepsut and Thutmose III. :

• A larger, fortified with towers brick wall.
• A Vortempel with barqueshrine, the so-called Red Chapel ( Chapelle rouge ), which was reconstructed in the early 21st century, and the annals hall.
• A 30.43 meter high obelisk pair between the 4th and the 5th pylon. Thutmose III. allowed as part of its Damnatio memoriae encase the obelisks so they were no longer visible. Paradoxically, this contributed to the maintenance.
• Between the Red Orchestra and the 5th pylon is a sixth was added.
• A sacred lake was created or enlarges an existing lake.
• At the southern axis, the direction of courage District, the huge pylons were erected 7 and 8. On the 7th pylon Hatshepsut is represented by four colossal statues, on 8 pylon are two seated statues and a pair of obelisks of Thutmose.
• East of Sesostris - building erected Thutmose the Achmenu.
• At the Processional Way to Luxor station came six chapels.

Amenhotep III. extended the temple axis to the west and south. He destroyed many small chapels and monuments of the 12th Dynasty and early 18th Dynasty, which were on this axis, and built it in the foundation. He added the third pylon with about forty eight meter high flagpoles. On the southern axis, he finished with the 10th pylon, stood two colossal statues of the pharaoh of quartzite before. Probably was renewed and the Processional Way to the Temple of Mut and Luxor as part of this massive building program and provided with 60 sphinxes.

In the Amarna period, the continuous development was interrupted. Amenhotep IV ( Akhenaten ) built at the beginning of his reign south of Amun District Aton a sanctuary ( Gem -pa - Aten ( Karnak ) ), which was destroyed under Horemheb and installed as a filler.

Horemheb built the 9th and 10th pylon at the southern axis. He added the temple of Amun at the second pylon in the West, which was 35 m high and 98 m wide and used for this purpose stones from the destroyed Aton sanctuary.

A portico ( hypostyle ), often referred to as Colonnade, of Seti I. between the 2nd and 3rd pylon was begun and completed under Ramses II.

20th Dynasty

Ramses III. built in front of the second pylon station a temple and also restored the Khonsu Temple of Amun in the district.

Third Intermediate Period

22 Dynasty

Sheshonk I built the square in front of the second pylon to an enclosed colonnaded courtyard with gates to the north, south and probably west.

25th dynasty

In the closed columns atrium of the Kushite king built Sheshonk I. (Pharaoh) Taharqa the famous columns stand. This consisted of a double row of five 21 -meter-high papyrus columns.

Late Period

30th Dynasty

The most important of Nectanebo I. erected in Amun- district buildings were the 21 meter high perimeter walls that were provided in the east, north, and in front of the Khonsu temple with monumental gates. These gates were, however, only under the Ptolemies Ptolemy III. Euergetes I. and Ptolemy IV Philopator I. lettered and decorated.