Karnak Temple Complex, Religious complex in Luxor, Egypt
Karnak Temple Complex is an archaeological site in Luxor, Egypt, covering more than 200 acres and featuring several temple precincts, monumental gateways, freestanding stone pillars, and ceremonial buildings along the Nile. The central precinct of Amun-Re forms the main section of the site, with enormous column halls, pharaoh statues, and wall reliefs showing gods, rulers, and religious scenes.
Pharaoh Senusret I began building the complex around 2000 BCE during the Middle Kingdom. Thirty successive rulers added new structures, columns, and shrines over more than fifteen centuries.
The name Karnak comes from the Arabic word for fortified village, referring to a medieval settlement that later arose here. Visitors today see priest living quarters and sacred lakes where ritual washing took place before ceremonies.
The Precinct of Amun-Re opens daily and offers shaded areas under the column halls and a marked walking route through the main structures. The grounds are mostly flat, but distances between structures can be tiring in heat, so an early morning visit is advisable.
The Great Hypostyle Hall contains 134 columns, with twelve in the central aisle rising about 80 feet (24 meters) tall, forming the largest religious hall in the world. Each of these central columns measures about 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) in diameter and can hold more than fifty people standing on top of its capital.
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