Essay On The Temple Of Karnak

The Temple of Amon, containing a collection of buildings within itself, is the largest temple located at The Great Temple of Karnak, known virtually as a city within a city. Built in a number of successive stages and directed by the priests of Amun, the construction of The Temple of Amon began during the Middle Kingdom around 1525 B.C.E. Although numerous renovations were made according to the reigning of different kings, the completed temple stood at 380 meters long and 100 meters across, surrounded by a mud-brick wall 600 meters by 750 meters. The temple’s famous elaborate features include an avenue of ram-headed sphinxes leading to the first of the ten pylons, four courtyards, and a hypostyle hall known as, The Great Hypostyle Hall of The Temple of Karnak. The temple functioned not only as a religious sanctuary, but also as shelter to workmen, cattle, orchards, boats and workshops along with serving as a social and economic center.

Initially, the purpose for the temple’s existence is to worship and bring praise to the male god, Amon-Ra. It is believed by the Egyptians that it is under Amon-Ra’s instructions to build the temple as a religious sanctuary to exhilarate his great power by prayer and making offerings. Each of the temple’s features has a specific association with Amon-Ra. For instance, the bordering ram-headed sphinxes represent Amon, and in-between each of the sphinx’s paws is a statue of Amon, which symbolized protection. Over time, the temple developed a new meaning, which was to serve as a reflection of the pharaohs’ ruling as King by executing an order according to their desirable royal traditions. Some rulers chose to modify the temple while others chose to physically expand its borders.

It was Egyptian c...

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...in the temples exterior, proved by the ram-headed sphinxes similar to those at the entrance. Inside the first courtyard on the left-hand side is a chapel made of granite and sandstone that contains three chambers.

The Second Pylon, which is almost completely destroyed, was built by Ramesses II. In the center of the second pylon is a doorway framed by two statues of Ramesses II on either side. The right statue of Ramesses is he defeating his enemies in the presence of Amon, all that we can see of the statue to the left are Ramesses’ legs. Continuing through the doorway, is an intervening door that was built by Ptolemy VI Philometor and Ptolemy IX Euergetes II during their joint reign. Only lintels remain with reliefs showing the King making offerings to the gods of the temple. The inner side of the earlier doorway has reliefs showing the same scenes on both sides.