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December 30, 2018 - "Karnak is located just few Km North of Luxor, and is arguably Egypt’s greatest monument bar the Pyramids.

 

Built on a gigantic scale, the site covers in total more than 245 acres and is the largest ancient religious site on the planet. It took a total of 1300 years to build and has been attracting pilgrims (and now tourists) for more than 4000 years.

 

Unable to comprehend its construction as anything other than divine, the ancient Egyptians called the site ‘Ipet Isut’ meaning ‘perfect of palaces’.

 

The construction of Karnak begun during the middle kingdom, but reached its Zenith during the new Kingdom as the God Amun rose to absolute power in the region. When wars were waged in Ancient Egypt it was seen as the battle between one deity and another for supremacy. Thus Gods were able to rise and fall like kings.

 

During the height of its power, Karnak presided over 65 villages, 433 gardens, 85 ships, and more than 80,000 workers and slaves.

 

The site includes three separate temple complexes, the largest and most revered being the Precinct of Amun. Large enough to accommodate 10 cathedrals, the precinct comprises of a sacred lake, several temples, chapels, a court, a festival hall and famously, the great Hypostyle Hall – a towering forest of ancient columns.

 

The site was once connected to the Luxor Temple - 3Km to the South - by an avenue flanked with sphinxes. Although some of them remain, most are buried beneath the edifices of the modern city." Text from the following website: www.alternativeegypt.com/Luxor/Karnak-Temple.html

View to the small temple or barque station, of Ramesses III (?) This temple was a miniature version of the mortuary temple at Medinet Habu. Precinct of Amun-Re at the Temple of Karnak.

the tekhen of Djehutymes I is slightly leaning. I remember having difficulty composing this shot because I did not realize at the time it was slanting to the right. The tekhen of Hatshepsut is in the background.

Precinct of Amun-Re at the Temple of Karnak.

I'm running my first 10-miler on the 7th. Training has been going great, so I decided I deserved a shuffle. My new iPet needs a name...I'm thinking "iTiny" :)

Asar colossus that bears the name of Ramesses IV

Avenue of 20 ram headed sphinxes at the First Pylon, Precinct of Amun-Re at the Temple of Karnak. Builty during the time of King Nektanebo I (30th Dynasty).

The 2nd Pylon (wall) built by Horemheb during the 18th Dynasty. Ramses I, the founder of the 19th Dynasty, later completed it. Precinct of Amun-Re at the Temple of Karnak.

Pharaoh Ramesses II with his daughter and Queen Bent'anta

December 30, 2018 - "Karnak is located just few Km North of Luxor, and is arguably Egypt’s greatest monument bar the Pyramids.

 

Built on a gigantic scale, the site covers in total more than 245 acres and is the largest ancient religious site on the planet. It took a total of 1300 years to build and has been attracting pilgrims (and now tourists) for more than 4000 years.

 

Unable to comprehend its construction as anything other than divine, the ancient Egyptians called the site ‘Ipet Isut’ meaning ‘perfect of palaces’.

 

The construction of Karnak begun during the middle kingdom, but reached its Zenith during the new Kingdom as the God Amun rose to absolute power in the region. When wars were waged in Ancient Egypt it was seen as the battle between one deity and another for supremacy. Thus Gods were able to rise and fall like kings.

 

During the height of its power, Karnak presided over 65 villages, 433 gardens, 85 ships, and more than 80,000 workers and slaves.

 

The site includes three separate temple complexes, the largest and most revered being the Precinct of Amun. Large enough to accommodate 10 cathedrals, the precinct comprises of a sacred lake, several temples, chapels, a court, a festival hall and famously, the great Hypostyle Hall – a towering forest of ancient columns.

 

The site was once connected to the Luxor Temple - 3Km to the South - by an avenue flanked with sphinxes. Although some of them remain, most are buried beneath the edifices of the modern city." Text from the following website: www.alternativeegypt.com/Luxor/Karnak-Temple.html

Crossing the 3rd Pylon out of the Hypostatic Hall, you come to an open, rectangular court, which is known as the Court of Tuthmosis I. In this court, Tuthmosis I erected 2 obelisks, as most probably this area was the main entrance of the Temple during his reign. Unfortunately, only one obelisk has survived: 19m high and around 310 tons in weight.

Nov.4, 2018: The Karnak Temple Complex, commonly known as Karnak, comprises a vast mix of temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings near Luxor, in Egypt.

 

A cult temple dedicated to Amun, Mut and Khonsu. The largest religious building complex ever constructed. The temple of Karnak was known as Ipet-isu—or “most select of places”—by the ancient Egyptians. It is a city of temples built over 2,000 years and dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. This derelict place is still capable of overshadowing many wonders of the modern world and in its day must have been awe-inspiring.

 

For the largely uneducated ancient Egyptian population, this could only have been the place of the gods. It is the largest religious building ever made, covering about 200 acres (1.5 km by 0.8 km), and was a place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years. The area of the sacred enclosure of Amun alone is sixty-one acres and could hold ten average European cathedrals. The great temple at the heart of Karnak is so big that St Peter’s, Milan, and Notre Dame Cathedrals would fit within its walls.

 

The Hypostyle hall, at 54,000 square feet (16,459 meters) and featuring 134 columns, is still the largest room of any religious building in the world. In addition to the main sanctuary there are several smaller temples and a vast sacred lake – 423 feet by 252 feet (129 by 77 meters). The sacred barges of the Theban Triad once floated on the lake during the annual Opet festival. The lake was surrounded by storerooms and living quarters for the priests, along with an aviary for aquatic birds.

 

Second Pylon entrance intro the hypostyle hall. in the fore ground is the remaining column of the Kiosk of Tahraqa

Second Pylon entrance intro the hypostyle hall. in the fore ground is the remaining column of the Kiosk of Tahraqa

The Egyptians believed that towards the end of annual agricultural cycle the gods and the earth became exhausted and required a fresh input of energy from the chaotic energy of the cosmos.

 

To accomplish this magical regeneration the Opet festival was held yearly at Karnak and Luxor. It lasted for twenty-seven days and was also a celebration of the link between pharaoh and the god Amun. The procession began at Karnak and ended at Luxor Temple, one and a half miles (2.4 kilometres) to the south.

 

The statue of the god Amun was bathed with holy water, dressed in fine linen, and adorned in gold and silver jewellery. The priests then placed the god in a shrine and onto the ceremonial barque supported by poles for carrying. Pharaoh emerged from the temple, his priests carrying the barque on their shoulders, and together they moved into the crowded streets. A troop of Nubian soldiers serving as guards beat their drums, and musicians accompanied the priests in song as incense filled the air.

 

At Luxor, Pharaoh and his priests entered the temple and ceremonies were performed to regenerate Amun, recreate the cosmos and transfer Amun’s power to Pharaoh. When he finally emerged from the temple sanctuary, the vast crowds cheered him and celebrated the guaranteed fertility of the earth and the expectation of abundant harvests.

During the festival the people were given over 11000 loaves of bread and more than 385 jars of beer, and some were allowed into the temple to ask questions of the god. The priests spoke the answers through a concealed window high up in the wall, or from inside hollow statues.

Karnak temple complex at Luxor developed over more than 1,000 years, ( 2055 BC to around 100 AD ) principally between the Twelfth and Twentieth Dynasties.

 

It was a #Culttemple dedicated to #Amun, #Mut and #Khonsu , at its peak, the largest and most important religious complex in #ancientEgypt .

going up to the main entrance of the temple.

Karnak temple, near Luxor, known in ancient Egyptian Ipet-isut or "The Most Selected of Places". Construction work began in the 16th century BC with approximately thirty pharaohs contributing to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity, and diversity not seen elsewhere in Egypt.

 

If anyone can tell me who this chap is I'd be greatful.

 

December 30, 2018 - "Karnak is located just few Km North of Luxor, and is arguably Egypt’s greatest monument bar the Pyramids.

 

Built on a gigantic scale, the site covers in total more than 245 acres and is the largest ancient religious site on the planet. It took a total of 1300 years to build and has been attracting pilgrims (and now tourists) for more than 4000 years.

 

Unable to comprehend its construction as anything other than divine, the ancient Egyptians called the site ‘Ipet Isut’ meaning ‘perfect of palaces’.

 

The construction of Karnak begun during the middle kingdom, but reached its Zenith during the new Kingdom as the God Amun rose to absolute power in the region. When wars were waged in Ancient Egypt it was seen as the battle between one deity and another for supremacy. Thus Gods were able to rise and fall like kings.

 

During the height of its power, Karnak presided over 65 villages, 433 gardens, 85 ships, and more than 80,000 workers and slaves.

 

The site includes three separate temple complexes, the largest and most revered being the Precinct of Amun. Large enough to accommodate 10 cathedrals, the precinct comprises of a sacred lake, several temples, chapels, a court, a festival hall and famously, the great Hypostyle Hall – a towering forest of ancient columns.

 

The site was once connected to the Luxor Temple - 3Km to the South - by an avenue flanked with sphinxes. Although some of them remain, most are buried beneath the edifices of the modern city." Text from the following website: www.alternativeegypt.com/Luxor/Karnak-Temple.html

Sacred Lake

 

Karnak Temple Sacred Lake is the largest of its kind and was dug by Tuthmosis III (1473-1458 BC).

 

It measures 393 feet (120m) by 252 feet (77m) and is lined with stone wall and has stairways descending into the water.

 

Source;

 

discoveringegypt.com/karnak-temple/karnak-temple-sacred-l...

 

Karnak temple complex at Luxor developed over more than 1,000 years, ( 2055 BC to around 100 AD ) principally between the Twelfth and Twentieth Dynasties.

 

It was a #Culttemple dedicated to #Amun, #Mut and #Khonsu , at its peak, the largest and most important religious complex in #ancientEgypt .

naos of Djehutymes III in the temple of Amen

www.goear.com/listen/cf392ec/karnak-1-desconocido

.

.

 

Nadie, salvo los sacerdotes o aquellas personas que estuviesen de algún modo al servicio de Dios, podía acceder al corazón del templo. Esta auténtica ciudad sagrada, cerrada por un alto recinto de ladrillo crudo, no sólo era el lugar de acogida de una gran multitud de fielesm sino aquel donde tenían lugar las misteriosas ceremonias regidas por un rirual preciso y complejo, cuyo objetivo era garantizar el funcionamiento del universo. Los tebanos sólo veían las puertas, la muralla y las vías de acceso al templo.

¿Había para ellos algo más impresionante que la constante presencia de este formidable poder oculto?.

December 30, 2018 - "Karnak is located just few Km North of Luxor, and is arguably Egypt’s greatest monument bar the Pyramids.

 

Built on a gigantic scale, the site covers in total more than 245 acres and is the largest ancient religious site on the planet. It took a total of 1300 years to build and has been attracting pilgrims (and now tourists) for more than 4000 years.

 

Unable to comprehend its construction as anything other than divine, the ancient Egyptians called the site ‘Ipet Isut’ meaning ‘perfect of palaces’.

 

The construction of Karnak begun during the middle kingdom, but reached its Zenith during the new Kingdom as the God Amun rose to absolute power in the region. When wars were waged in Ancient Egypt it was seen as the battle between one deity and another for supremacy. Thus Gods were able to rise and fall like kings.

 

During the height of its power, Karnak presided over 65 villages, 433 gardens, 85 ships, and more than 80,000 workers and slaves.

 

The site includes three separate temple complexes, the largest and most revered being the Precinct of Amun. Large enough to accommodate 10 cathedrals, the precinct comprises of a sacred lake, several temples, chapels, a court, a festival hall and famously, the great Hypostyle Hall – a towering forest of ancient columns.

 

The site was once connected to the Luxor Temple - 3Km to the South - by an avenue flanked with sphinxes. Although some of them remain, most are buried beneath the edifices of the modern city." Text from the following website: www.alternativeegypt.com/Luxor/Karnak-Temple.html

December 30, 2018 - "Karnak is located just few Km North of Luxor, and is arguably Egypt’s greatest monument bar the Pyramids.

 

Built on a gigantic scale, the site covers in total more than 245 acres and is the largest ancient religious site on the planet. It took a total of 1300 years to build and has been attracting pilgrims (and now tourists) for more than 4000 years.

 

Unable to comprehend its construction as anything other than divine, the ancient Egyptians called the site ‘Ipet Isut’ meaning ‘perfect of palaces’.

 

The construction of Karnak begun during the middle kingdom, but reached its Zenith during the new Kingdom as the God Amun rose to absolute power in the region. When wars were waged in Ancient Egypt it was seen as the battle between one deity and another for supremacy. Thus Gods were able to rise and fall like kings.

 

During the height of its power, Karnak presided over 65 villages, 433 gardens, 85 ships, and more than 80,000 workers and slaves.

 

The site includes three separate temple complexes, the largest and most revered being the Precinct of Amun. Large enough to accommodate 10 cathedrals, the precinct comprises of a sacred lake, several temples, chapels, a court, a festival hall and famously, the great Hypostyle Hall – a towering forest of ancient columns.

 

The site was once connected to the Luxor Temple - 3Km to the South - by an avenue flanked with sphinxes. Although some of them remain, most are buried beneath the edifices of the modern city." Text from the following website: www.alternativeegypt.com/Luxor/Karnak-Temple.html

Nov.4, 2018: The Karnak Temple Complex, commonly known as Karnak, comprises a vast mix of temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings near Luxor, in Egypt.

 

A cult temple dedicated to Amun, Mut and Khonsu. The largest religious building complex ever constructed. The temple of Karnak was known as Ipet-isu—or “most select of places”—by the ancient Egyptians. It is a city of temples built over 2,000 years and dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. This derelict place is still capable of overshadowing many wonders of the modern world and in its day must have been awe-inspiring.

 

For the largely uneducated ancient Egyptian population, this could only have been the place of the gods. It is the largest religious building ever made, covering about 200 acres (1.5 km by 0.8 km), and was a place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years. The area of the sacred enclosure of Amun alone is sixty-one acres and could hold ten average European cathedrals. The great temple at the heart of Karnak is so big that St Peter’s, Milan, and Notre Dame Cathedrals would fit within its walls.

 

The Hypostyle hall, at 54,000 square feet (16,459 meters) and featuring 134 columns, is still the largest room of any religious building in the world. In addition to the main sanctuary there are several smaller temples and a vast sacred lake – 423 feet by 252 feet (129 by 77 meters). The sacred barges of the Theban Triad once floated on the lake during the annual Opet festival. The lake was surrounded by storerooms and living quarters for the priests, along with an aviary for aquatic birds.

 

Second Pylon entrance intro the hypostyle hall. in the fore ground is the remaining column of the Kiosk of Tahraqa

Second Pylon entrance intro the hypostyle hall. in the fore ground is the remaining column of the Kiosk of Tahraqa

The Egyptians believed that towards the end of annual agricultural cycle the gods and the earth became exhausted and required a fresh input of energy from the chaotic energy of the cosmos.

 

To accomplish this magical regeneration the Opet festival was held yearly at Karnak and Luxor. It lasted for twenty-seven days and was also a celebration of the link between pharaoh and the god Amun. The procession began at Karnak and ended at Luxor Temple, one and a half miles (2.4 kilometres) to the south.

 

The statue of the god Amun was bathed with holy water, dressed in fine linen, and adorned in gold and silver jewellery. The priests then placed the god in a shrine and onto the ceremonial barque supported by poles for carrying. Pharaoh emerged from the temple, his priests carrying the barque on their shoulders, and together they moved into the crowded streets. A troop of Nubian soldiers serving as guards beat their drums, and musicians accompanied the priests in song as incense filled the air.

 

At Luxor, Pharaoh and his priests entered the temple and ceremonies were performed to regenerate Amun, recreate the cosmos and transfer Amun’s power to Pharaoh. When he finally emerged from the temple sanctuary, the vast crowds cheered him and celebrated the guaranteed fertility of the earth and the expectation of abundant harvests.

During the festival the people were given over 11000 loaves of bread and more than 385 jars of beer, and some were allowed into the temple to ask questions of the god. The priests spoke the answers through a concealed window high up in the wall, or from inside hollow statues.

Precinct of Amun-Re at the Temple of Karnak.

December 30, 2018 - "Karnak is located just few Km North of Luxor, and is arguably Egypt’s greatest monument bar the Pyramids.

 

Built on a gigantic scale, the site covers in total more than 245 acres and is the largest ancient religious site on the planet. It took a total of 1300 years to build and has been attracting pilgrims (and now tourists) for more than 4000 years.

 

Unable to comprehend its construction as anything other than divine, the ancient Egyptians called the site ‘Ipet Isut’ meaning ‘perfect of palaces’.

 

The construction of Karnak begun during the middle kingdom, but reached its Zenith during the new Kingdom as the God Amun rose to absolute power in the region. When wars were waged in Ancient Egypt it was seen as the battle between one deity and another for supremacy. Thus Gods were able to rise and fall like kings.

 

During the height of its power, Karnak presided over 65 villages, 433 gardens, 85 ships, and more than 80,000 workers and slaves.

 

The site includes three separate temple complexes, the largest and most revered being the Precinct of Amun. Large enough to accommodate 10 cathedrals, the precinct comprises of a sacred lake, several temples, chapels, a court, a festival hall and famously, the great Hypostyle Hall – a towering forest of ancient columns.

 

The site was once connected to the Luxor Temple - 3Km to the South - by an avenue flanked with sphinxes. Although some of them remain, most are buried beneath the edifices of the modern city." Text from the following website: www.alternativeegypt.com/Luxor/Karnak-Temple.html

Closed papyrus columns on the left side of the First open court (between the First and Second Pylons (Walls).Precinct of Amun-Re at the Temple of Karnak.

Karnak temple complex at Luxor developed over more than 1,000 years, ( 2055 BC to around 100 AD ) principally between the Twelfth and Twentieth Dynasties.

 

It was a #Culttemple dedicated to #Amun, #Mut and #Khonsu , at its peak, the largest and most important religious complex in #ancientEgypt .

Avenue of sphinxes at the First Pylon, Precinct of Amun-Re at the Temple of Karnak. These cryosphinxes have ram's heads symbolizing the great state god, Amun, and each holds a statue of the king protectively between their paws.

The Karnak Temple (Ipet-isut), statues of Ramses III outside his temple.

December 30, 2018 - "Karnak is located just few Km North of Luxor, and is arguably Egypt’s greatest monument bar the Pyramids.

 

Built on a gigantic scale, the site covers in total more than 245 acres and is the largest ancient religious site on the planet. It took a total of 1300 years to build and has been attracting pilgrims (and now tourists) for more than 4000 years.

 

Unable to comprehend its construction as anything other than divine, the ancient Egyptians called the site ‘Ipet Isut’ meaning ‘perfect of palaces’.

 

The construction of Karnak begun during the middle kingdom, but reached its Zenith during the new Kingdom as the God Amun rose to absolute power in the region. When wars were waged in Ancient Egypt it was seen as the battle between one deity and another for supremacy. Thus Gods were able to rise and fall like kings.

 

During the height of its power, Karnak presided over 65 villages, 433 gardens, 85 ships, and more than 80,000 workers and slaves.

 

The site includes three separate temple complexes, the largest and most revered being the Precinct of Amun. Large enough to accommodate 10 cathedrals, the precinct comprises of a sacred lake, several temples, chapels, a court, a festival hall and famously, the great Hypostyle Hall – a towering forest of ancient columns.

 

The site was once connected to the Luxor Temple - 3Km to the South - by an avenue flanked with sphinxes. Although some of them remain, most are buried beneath the edifices of the modern city." Text from the following website: www.alternativeegypt.com/Luxor/Karnak-Temple.html

El Gobernador José Manuel de la Sota de inauguró formalmente el ciclo lectivo del programa Confiamos en Vos durante una ceremonia celebrada en el IPET 249 “Nicolás Copérnico”.

(Foto: Fabián Contreras)

   

Hatshepsut's fallen obelisk, Precinct of Amun-Re at the Temple of Karnak.

Pharaoh Hatshepsut kneels at Amen's feet as he transfers to her the royal ka which represents the life force / bull.

It is the mother of all religious buildings, the largest ever made and a place of pilgrimage for nearly 4,000 years.

Kheper Scarab at Karnak Temple complex

 

Karnak temple complex at Luxor developed over more than 1,000 years, ( 2055 BC to around 100 AD ) principally between the Twelfth and Twentieth Dynasties.

 

It was a #Culttemple dedicated to #Amun, #Mut and #Khonsu , at its peak, the largest and most important religious complex in #ancientEgypt .

December 30, 2018 - "Karnak is located just few Km North of Luxor, and is arguably Egypt’s greatest monument bar the Pyramids.

 

Built on a gigantic scale, the site covers in total more than 245 acres and is the largest ancient religious site on the planet. It took a total of 1300 years to build and has been attracting pilgrims (and now tourists) for more than 4000 years.

 

Unable to comprehend its construction as anything other than divine, the ancient Egyptians called the site ‘Ipet Isut’ meaning ‘perfect of palaces’.

 

The construction of Karnak begun during the middle kingdom, but reached its Zenith during the new Kingdom as the God Amun rose to absolute power in the region. When wars were waged in Ancient Egypt it was seen as the battle between one deity and another for supremacy. Thus Gods were able to rise and fall like kings.

 

During the height of its power, Karnak presided over 65 villages, 433 gardens, 85 ships, and more than 80,000 workers and slaves.

 

The site includes three separate temple complexes, the largest and most revered being the Precinct of Amun. Large enough to accommodate 10 cathedrals, the precinct comprises of a sacred lake, several temples, chapels, a court, a festival hall and famously, the great Hypostyle Hall – a towering forest of ancient columns.

 

The site was once connected to the Luxor Temple - 3Km to the South - by an avenue flanked with sphinxes. Although some of them remain, most are buried beneath the edifices of the modern city." Text from the following website: www.alternativeegypt.com/Luxor/Karnak-Temple.html

Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River in the city today known as Luxor (ancient Thebes) and was constructed approximately 1400 BCE. In the Egyptian language it is known as ipet resyt, "the southern sanctuary".

Nov.4, 2018: The Karnak Temple Complex, commonly known as Karnak, comprises a vast mix of temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings near Luxor, in Egypt.

 

A cult temple dedicated to Amun, Mut and Khonsu. The largest religious building complex ever constructed. The temple of Karnak was known as Ipet-isu—or “most select of places”—by the ancient Egyptians. It is a city of temples built over 2,000 years and dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. This derelict place is still capable of overshadowing many wonders of the modern world and in its day must have been awe-inspiring.

 

For the largely uneducated ancient Egyptian population, this could only have been the place of the gods. It is the largest religious building ever made, covering about 200 acres (1.5 km by 0.8 km), and was a place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years. The area of the sacred enclosure of Amun alone is sixty-one acres and could hold ten average European cathedrals. The great temple at the heart of Karnak is so big that St Peter’s, Milan, and Notre Dame Cathedrals would fit within its walls.

 

The Hypostyle hall, at 54,000 square feet (16,459 meters) and featuring 134 columns, is still the largest room of any religious building in the world. In addition to the main sanctuary there are several smaller temples and a vast sacred lake – 423 feet by 252 feet (129 by 77 meters). The sacred barges of the Theban Triad once floated on the lake during the annual Opet festival. The lake was surrounded by storerooms and living quarters for the priests, along with an aviary for aquatic birds.

 

Second Pylon entrance intro the hypostyle hall. in the fore ground is the remaining column of the Kiosk of Tahraqa

Second Pylon entrance intro the hypostyle hall. in the fore ground is the remaining column of the Kiosk of Tahraqa

The Egyptians believed that towards the end of annual agricultural cycle the gods and the earth became exhausted and required a fresh input of energy from the chaotic energy of the cosmos.

 

To accomplish this magical regeneration the Opet festival was held yearly at Karnak and Luxor. It lasted for twenty-seven days and was also a celebration of the link between pharaoh and the god Amun. The procession began at Karnak and ended at Luxor Temple, one and a half miles (2.4 kilometres) to the south.

 

The statue of the god Amun was bathed with holy water, dressed in fine linen, and adorned in gold and silver jewellery. The priests then placed the god in a shrine and onto the ceremonial barque supported by poles for carrying. Pharaoh emerged from the temple, his priests carrying the barque on their shoulders, and together they moved into the crowded streets. A troop of Nubian soldiers serving as guards beat their drums, and musicians accompanied the priests in song as incense filled the air.

 

At Luxor, Pharaoh and his priests entered the temple and ceremonies were performed to regenerate Amun, recreate the cosmos and transfer Amun’s power to Pharaoh. When he finally emerged from the temple sanctuary, the vast crowds cheered him and celebrated the guaranteed fertility of the earth and the expectation of abundant harvests.

During the festival the people were given over 11000 loaves of bread and more than 385 jars of beer, and some were allowed into the temple to ask questions of the god. The priests spoke the answers through a concealed window high up in the wall, or from inside hollow statues.

The small, but apparently important temple dedicated to the hippopotamus goddess, Opet (Apet, Ipet, Ipy) is located immediately to the west of the temple of Khonsu at Karnak on the east bank at Luxor (ancient Thebes). Opet was venerated as a helper of women in Childbirth, and her rather odd temple was primarily built during the Greek Period by Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, and represents one of the last cult buildings erected at Karnak during this period.

Luxor: Charles Bray took this picture of “Karnak Temple Columns in the Hypostyle Hall.” The temple of Karnak which is located 4km north from Luxor is the largest and the most complicated architecture in Egypt. The ancient name for Karnak was Ipet Isut, ‘The Most Select of Places’. Although a major part of the vast site is occupied by the Great Temple of Amun, temples were also built here for other Egyptian gods including Amun’s consort Mut and the lunar deity Khonsu - the other members of a triad of gods worshipped at ancient Thebes. The Karnak Temples were progressively enlarged by many New Kingdom pharaohs who added a succession of pylons, courts and halls. Builders included Tuthmosis III (ruled 1504-1450 BC), Amenhotep III (1386-1349 BC) and Ramesses.

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