Karnak Temple in Luxor
Karnak temple complex is an immense temple that is considered one of the most ancient places in the whole country of Egypt. Giza Pyramids in Cairo are the only place that can compete with the greatness of this amazing Temple complex, it consists of four main parts in which the most inclusive part is the only part that is allowed to be visited by tourists.
The other three parts are smaller temples for Mut, Monto, and Amenhotep IV (who is also known as Akhenaten) and they are not allowed to be visited. Also, smaller refuges and temples connect the main part with the other three smaller parts that exist in the temple.
King Akhenaten | Amenhotep IV | Monotheism in Ancient Egypt
Karnak Temple Facts
Why is the Karnak Temple so famous? Because when you visit the temple you are visiting the heart of the ancient Egyptian New Kingdom when you get to visit Karnak temple in Luxor as this wide temple complex was the center of ancient Egyptian religion when the power was concentrated at Luxor (Thebes during ancient Egypt), and its value appears in being very big in size and for its religious significance, the temple served as the center for administration besides of being the largest temple complex of the New Kingdom Pharaohs of ancient Egypt to be ever built in any other cultures.
It is the largest monumental complex ever built, Karnak is the most important site in Pharaonic Egypt. Enlarged by successive dynasties, its development has continued for over 1500 years and is today a collection of sanctuaries, pylons, and obelisks, a true historical open-air stone archive
Planning any tours to Egypt? or from our kinds of tours from Cairo, you can easily see Karnak Temple with Egypt Nile Cruise tours that will stop at the Karnak Temple on the east bank of Luxor.
Karnak Temple’s peak was during the period of the New Kingdom, Hatshepsut, Ramses II, and other kings take part in such a valuable addition to the temple complex, and even rulers from the Greco-roman area continued buildings and restorations afterward.
but Who built the temple at Karnak? it's a complicated question because it was built on stages, and there are several kings who built inside Karnak Temples, and the most important are the kings of the New kingdom like king Ramses II from the 19th Dynast, King Tutmosis III, Queen Hatshpsut, King Amenhotep III, King Tutmosis I, Tutmosis II and Akhenaton.
Alexander the Great built a shrine for Amen there inside the Akh-Mnw (Festival Hall) of king Tutmosis III.
The most important temple belonging to Amun consists of the most well-known sections of the whole temple complex which includes the Great Hypostyle Hall which consists of 134 enormous columns and is considered to be the most amazing site in Egypt. Its excavations and wall inscriptions can not be missed to visit.
Karnak Temple is the world's second-largest ancient religious complex, after Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It is also considered Egypt's second most visited historical site, after the Pyramids of Giza. The temple consists of four main parts: the court of Amun-Ra, the province of Mut, the province of Montu and the dismantled temple of Amenhotep IV, plus a number of smaller temples and shrines linking the province of Mut, the temple of Amun-Ra and Luxor Temple.
A sound and light show takes place every night at Karnak temple and is shown in many languages at 3 different times per day, but you should consult your tour guide or your hotel about the languages of the various showings. That amazing laser data show is a great experience to learn about ancient Egyptian history.
You can learn more about a special place called the Red Chapel Of Hatshepsut. It's a place where you can feel and experience how amazing ancient Egypt was.