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Karnak Temple

Temple Facade

Ancient temples were considered to be the residence of the god. The Karnak temple was the dwelling place of Amon-Re, his wife Mut and their son Khonsu, the moon god. Construction continued on this temple for more than two millennia under the belief that once building ceased, the temple “died.” The temple was a closed compound, open only to the priests and the pharaoh. The common people could only enter the courtyard.

Hypostyle Hall

Consisting of 134 columns, the hypostyle hall was started by Seti I, but the majority of the construction was done by Ramses II. The center columns are taller than the others, and the windows would allow light to come in. This hall may have been similar to Solomon’s “House of the Forest of Lebanon” (1 Kgs 7).

Thutmose's Canaanite City List

In Thutmose III’s city lists, hundreds of princes are depicted with hands tied behind their backs and their cartouches on their shields. This is a depiction of the rulers of the cities of Canaan that Thutmose III captured when Megiddo fell. All the rulers, except the king of Kadesh, were trapped in Megiddo, and so by the capture of Megiddo, Thutmose could say that it was as the capture of a thousand cities. At Thutmose’s death, the Egyptian empire stretched from the Euphrates to the Fourth Cataract, the greatest extent of Egypt’s territory ever.

Ramses' Treaty

Ramses II’s treaty with the Hittites is one of the most important treaties in history. Originally written on silver tablets in Heliopolis and Hattusus, a copy was found here on this wall in the Karnak Temple. After years of inconclusive battles between the Hittites and the Egyptians, Ramses II, and the Hittite ruler concluded an agreement by which Syria and Canaan would be divided between them. On either side of this text are depictions of Merneptah’s battles in Canaan, including those against Ashkelon and Israel.

Shishak's City List

Pharaoh Shishak (945–924 BC) invaded Israel and Judah in 925 BC and carried off the treasures of Jerusalem’s temple. The Bible records the attack from Judah’s perspective (2 Chr 12), but Shishak’s list gives much greater detail including the names of 150 cities, most of which cannot be located today. Scholars debate how to read this inscription, but most agree that the following cities are mentioned: Taanach, Beth-Shean, Rehob, Mahanaim, Gibeon, Beth-Horon, Megiddo, and Arad.

Sacred Lake

Every Egyptian temple had a sacred lake, and the one at Karnak Temple was the largest. Used daily by the priests for purification, the sacred lake was also used in festivals during which images of the gods would travel across the lake in boats. The lake measures 425 by 255 feet (130 x 77 m) and was surrounded by storerooms and homes of the priests.

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Related Websites

See also Abu Simbel and the Luxor Temple. For historical images of Karnak, see Life in the Holy Land.

Karnak (Ancient History Encyclopedia). A detailed and well-illustrated article.

Exploring The Temples of Karnak: A Visitor’s Guide (PlanetWare). Offers photos and descriptions of many points of interest at Karnak.

Temple of Amun-Re and the Hypostyle Hall, Karnak (Khan Academy). This article is short, but the illustrations alone make it worth a look.

Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project (University of Memphis). Extensive site describing the most awe-inspiring of ancient buildings, including a general description, a tour, and a bibliography. The site also describes the painstaking work of the team recording the inscriptions.

Karnak (Tour Egypt). Detailed description of the temple’s main areas with links to further discussions.

Karnak Temple Great Court (Discovering Egypt). This website offers descriptions and computer reconstructions of many points of interest at Karnak.

Obelisk of Queen Hapshetsut (Places of Peace and Power). Good concise explanation of the temple’s obelisk and the function of obelisks in general.

Karnak – Temple of Amun (Bible History Online). A sketch of the ancient temple marking its various features.

Karnak Temple (NOVA/PBS). This site features several 360 degree, interactive images of the Karnak Temple, including the Temple of Ramses III. Click on the blue dots on the map to see the various pictures.