Great Temple of Amon
Quick Summary
The Great Temple of Amon, located in Karnak, Egypt, was the largest temple complex in Egypt and one of the largest in the world. It was dedicated to the state god Amon-Re and served as a significant religious and historical site, reflecting the changing fortunes of the Egyptian empire.1
The complex lacks a systematic plan due to continuous additions and alterations over many periods. It features numerous pylons, courts, and halls, including the impressive hypostyle hall, which is one of the wonders of antiquity. The temple's construction and embellishments involved various pharaohs, such as Thutmose I, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep III, Seti I, and Ramses II, each leaving their mark on the site.1
Amon, meaning \"The Hidden One,\" was revered as the king of the gods. His cult reached Thebes and, by being identified with the sun god Re, became Amon-Re, a national deity. The Great Temple of Amon at Karnak was one of the wealthiest and largest temples from the New Kingdom onward. The worship of Amon also spread to other areas, including Luxor and Siwa, and even to Kush in Sudan.2
During the reign of Akhenaton, the worship of Amon was suppressed in favor of the sun disk god Aton. However, after Akhenaton's death, the traditional cult of Amon was restored. The site of Karnak, along with other areas of ancient Thebes, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, though preservation efforts are ongoing due to foundation issues and moisture damage.231
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Thutmose I1760 bce) temple of Amon at Thebes. He erected an enclosure wall and two pylons at the western end, with a small pillared hall in between. Two obelisks were added in front of the outer pylon. Thutmose created the axial temple, which became standard for the New…
Read More1760 bce) temple of Amon at Thebes. He erected an enclosure wall and two pylons at the western end, with a small pillared hall in between. Two obelisks were added in front of the outer pylon. Thutmose created the axial temple, which became standard for the New…
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Thutmose IIIMilitary campaigns…temple of the state god, Amon.
Read More…temple of the state god, Amon.
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KarnakWithin the enclosure of the Great Temple of Amon are included a number of other notable small shrines and temples. A temple to Ptah, in the north side of the enclosure, was built by Hatshepsut and Thutmose III and added to by the Ptolemies, who also embellished the Great Temple…
Read MoreWithin the enclosure of the Great Temple of Amon are included a number of other notable small shrines and temples. A temple to Ptah, in the north side of the enclosure, was built by Hatshepsut and Thutmose III and added to by the Ptolemies, who also embellished the Great Temple…
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LuxorThe ancient ruins…sphinxes connected it to the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak. The modern name Luxor (Arabic: Al-Uqṣur) means “The Palaces” or perhaps “The Forts,” from the Roman castra.
Read More…sphinxes connected it to the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak. The modern name Luxor (Arabic: Al-Uqṣur) means “The Palaces” or perhaps “The Forts,” from the Roman castra.
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clerestory…and Ramses II at the Temple of Amon (1349–1197 bc, Karnak, Egypt), in which the central range of columns, higher than those on either side, permitted clerestories to be built of pierced stone slabs.
Read More…and Ramses II at the Temple of Amon (1349–1197 bc, Karnak, Egypt), in which the central range of columns, higher than those on either side, permitted clerestories to be built of pierced stone slabs.
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constructionStone construction in Egypt…(80 feet) in the great temple of Amon-Re at Karnak. But stone lintels spanning between columns are limited by the tension they develop on their bottom surfaces; their maximum span is perhaps 5 meters (16 feet). Thus, for longer spans, another structural form was needed to exploit the higher compressive…
Read More…(80 feet) in the great temple of Amon-Re at Karnak. But stone lintels spanning between columns are limited by the tension they develop on their bottom surfaces; their maximum span is perhaps 5 meters (16 feet). Thus, for longer spans, another structural form was needed to exploit the higher compressive…
Read More