Templul lui Amon din Karnak

Templele din karnak sunt cele mai vaste temple din lume. Complexul conine mai multe temple:
Marele templu al lui Amon-Ra, Templul lui Khonso, Templul lui Ptah, Templul Ipt, Templul lui
Montho i Templul zeiei Osiris. Toate aceste temple erau nprejmuite de un zid de 20 m nlime
construit din crmizi de lut.
Numele de Karnak provine din limba arab i nseamn sat fortificat.
Templul lui Amon a fost cunoscut sub denumirea de Ipt-Swt care s-ar traduce locul ales, n
timpul Regatului Mijlociu; de asemenea a mai fost numit Pr-Imn care nseamn casa lui Amon.
But the gods house was much more than a mere dwelling; it also
included an
estate both around the temple and in other parts of the count
ry that supplied
it with resources. While much of the land around the Karnak te
mples has not
yet been excavated, storehouses, aviaries, production centers f
or food and drink,
animal slaughter areas, and homes for priests have been uncover
ed, showing
that the temples managed a system of production and consumption
for its own
goods and services. Documents from a variety of periods show t
hat the Amun
temple was also involved in a larger, regional network of land
ownership and
taxation that brought in a substantial amount of wealth to the
temple.
But the gods house was much more than a mere dwelling; it also
included an
estate both around the temple and in other parts of the count
ry that supplied
it with resources. While much of the land around the Karnak te
mples has not
yet been excavated, storehouses, aviaries, production centers f
or food and drink,
animal slaughter areas, and homes for priests have been uncover
ed, showing
that the temples managed a system of production and consumption
for its own
goods and services. Documents from a variety of periods show t
hat the Amun
temple was also involved in a larger, regional network of land
ownership and
taxation that brought in a substantial amount of wealth to the
temple.
1

The first pylon stands at the far west of the Karnak precinct and is the main entrance to the
temple today. The pylon was never completed and the remains of mud brick ramps used to build
the pylon can still be seen inside the court today.
Measurements: The base for each tower is 14.5m deep and 113m wide. The north tower rises 32
course, about 21.70m, and the south tower rises 45 courses or 31.65m. These towers would have
reached a height of 38m to 40m. The gateway between the towers (probably constructed by
1

Shoshenq I) is 27.5m high and 7.4 wide. A second, smaller doorway (not shown on the model)
was inserted into the gateway attaining a height of only 10.85m.
Phase: Nectanebo I

Nectanebo built Pylon I, in concert with a new huge enclosure wall surrounding the Amun
temple precinct, to serve as a new monumental entrance to the temple. It continues to serve as
the entrance to the temple today.
The pylon was probably constructed to replace the western wall and gateway of the court of
Shoshenq I, which functioned as the western entrance to the temple in the Third Intermediate
Period.
Nectanebo's ambitious project was never completed. The construction of this pylon and its huge
enclosure wall may have been undertaken to protect the temple from foreign invaders.
Construction materials: sandstone
2

The second pylon stands east of the later Shoshenq court and acts as the western wall of the later
hypostyle hall. The second pylon is decorated with scenes of the king in the company of the
gods. A large gateway fronts the pylon on its west face. This would have served as the main gate
to the temple until the construction of a new court and western gate by Shoshenq I.
Measurements: The pylon's original height is unknown. The bases of the towers were of 46.4m
long and 14.6m wide. The height of the gate's opening was 29.5m.

Phase: Horemheb
Horemheb significantly extended the Amun-Ra temple to the west by the construction of a new
pylon and gateway. During the time of its construction, it fronted an open court that led to the
third pylon of Amenhotep III.
Ramesses I later completed the decoration of Horemheb and then replaced all of Horemheb's
cartouches with his own.
After the gate of the second pylon was severely damaged during a fire, its interior western face
was completely rebuilt and redecorated by the artists of Ptolemy VI. Along the eastern section of
the pylon's passageway, damages caused by falling ceiling blocks were also repaired under the
king. This time, the artists tried to respect the original 19th Dynasty scenes of Ramesses I (and
Ramesses II, who usurped many of the scenes of his grandfather). They recreated as much of the
relief decoration as possible, choosing a style that echoed that of the New Kingdom and even
carving the Ramesside names into the royal cartouches.
2

Construction materials: sandstone

3

The third pylon now forms the east wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall. It is located between the
second and fourth pylons along the temple's east/west processional axis. It also marks the
intersection of this axis with the north/south processional path.
The inscribed decoration glorifies the jubilee (heb-sed) festival of Amenhotep III and presents
the king and the gods sacred bark on a festival journey to Luxor temple. Originally, some scenes
depicted the kings son accompanying his father, but these depictions of a young Amenhotep
IV/Akhenaten were later defaced.
Measurements: Pylon 3 measures 28m tall.
Phase: Amenhotep III

Amenhotep III cleared away the "festival court" of Thutmose II and the numerous pillars, bark
shrines and other monuments decorating this space to construct his new pylon.
These features were dismantled and used in the foundation and fill of Pylon III, where they were
found (often in quite good condition) in modern times. The construction of this new pylon
shifted the main temple entrance eastward, remarkable as the temple until this time had gradually
moved further and further west as the pharaohs continued to expand outward. The motivation for
this change in policy is unknown.
Construction materials: sandstone
4

The fourth pylon formed the west side of the Wadjet Hall and the east side of the "festival court"
of Thutmose II. The enclosure wall connected to this pylon encircled the early 18th Dynasty
temple of the time. A limestone casing covered the pylon's interior sandstone core.
Measurements: The pylon stood 23.50m tall with a total width of 62.6 m and a depth of 10.5m.
Phase: Thutmose I

Pylon IV served as the main entrance into the temple precinct until the mid-18th Dynasty.
Rectangular niches were originally built into the east face of the stonework (which faced the
interior of the Wadjet Hall) for the placement of small Osiride statues of Thutmose I.
The sandstone enclosure wall replaced the temple's previous inner mud brick enclosure wall
Construction materials: sandstone, limestone
3

Introduction

Located on the main, east/west temple axis, Pylon 5 formed the east wall of the Wadjet hall. The
pylon led to a large, open court with a columned portico. The pylon was connected on its north
and south extension walls to the temple's new enclosure wall. A limestone casing covered the
pylon's interior sandstone core on the upper sections of the pylon, replaced at the base with a
casing of red granite.
Measurements: The base of the pylon measured approximately 36.4m by 7.7m. The towers rose
19m.
Phase: Thutmose I

The fifth pylon and its court connected to the new stone enclosure wall surrounding the temple.
Like the fourth pylon, rectangular niches were originally built into the east face of the stonework
for the placement of small Osiride statues of Thutmose I. Standing sandstone statues of
Thutmose I were placed between each niche. These measured 3.15m tall. Sixteen fluted
sandstone columns created a covered portico on the court's north, west and south sides.
Construction materials: sandstone, limestone and red granite
6

The small sixth pylon was located between the court of pylon five and the "palace of Ma'at." The
sandstone pylon's gate was made of granite and covered in electrum. Relief decoration depicted
Thutmose III adoring the god Amun-Ra. The court was lined on its north, west, and southern
edges with a portico of twelve closed papyrus form columns, six to the north and six to the south.
Small chapels extended from the northern and southern sections of this court towards the east.
Measurements: The small pylon measured 15.7m long, 4.2m wide, and rose only 12.50m high.
The chapels of Thutmose III were 3.1m high, 2.6m wide and 3.65m deep.
Phase: Thutmose III

Thutmose III added the sixth pylon, making a new entranceway to the sanctuary of the temple.
The northern and southern edges of the court were originally occupied by limestone chapels of
Amenhotep I. Thutmose III, after his year 42, replaced all of Amenhotep I's limestone chapels
with sandstone ones. They were intended to hold statues of the king which were to receive
offerings. Interior relief scenes depict both Thutmose III and the now deified Amenhotep I.
Thutmose III also added a series of roofed connecting walls between Pylon VI and the "palace of
Ma'at," sectioning off the northern and southern porticoes. This addition, along with the king's
partition walls and gate in the court of the fifth pylon and the gateway around the Hatshepsut
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obelisks in the Wadjet hall, created a narrow corridor from the "festival court to the temple's
sanctuary.
The black granite doorway to the southern portico was removed from the west wall of the "red
chapel" of Hatshepsut. When the chapel was disassembled by Thutmose III, he reused the two
main doorways in his renovations of the central part of the temple. The other was placed inside
the "palace of Ma'at" at the entrance to the northern suite of rooms.
Construction materials: sandstone
7

The seventh pylon began the Amun-Ra temple's southern processional route. It was located just
north of the eighth pylon of Hatshepsut. Two colossal statues of Thutmose III flanked the pylon's
doorway on the south side.
Two rose granite obelisks stood just south of the statues. See webpage for Obelisks of Pylon 7
for more information on these monuments.
Measurements: The pylon reached a height of 26m. It was 63.2m in length and 10.6m in width.
Phase: Thutmose III

Thutmose III erected his pylon between the existing pylon of Hatshepsut (the eighth) and the
southern entrance to the "festival court" of Thutmose III. According to inscriptions on the one of
the king's chapels, he replaced a mud brick pylon that originally stood on the spot.
The southern face of the both pylon towers was decorated with relief scenes of the Thutmose III
in the act of "smiting" a group of cowering captives.
The court of this pylon has been called the "court of the cachette," as some time in the GrecoRoman period, a huge quantity of stone and metal statues were buried here within a huge pit.
They were discovered in 1903 CE during excavations at the temple by Georges Legrain.
Construction materials: sandstone
8

The eighth pylon was located along the southern processional route, south of the seventh pylon
and north of the ninth pylon.
Measurements: Pylon VIII measured 21m high. It was 47.7m in length and 9.3m in width.
Phase: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut's eighth pylon was the first of the still remaining pylons added to the temple's
southern processional route. It may have replaced a mud brick pylon that once stood on the same
spot. While it served as the southern entrance, statues of Thutmose II, Amenhotep I with
Ahmose-Nefertari, and Amenhotep II were erected along its southern face.
The original decoration of the queen is now mostly lost, as it was subject to a series of later
recarvings by Thutmose III, Amenhotep II, Tutankhamen, and Sety I.
The south face now shows Amenhotep II smiting Egypt's enemies, while the north face depicts
the king interacting with the gods and a procession of the sacred bark (possibly during the Opet
Festival).
Construction materials: sandstone
9

Pylon nine was located on the southern processional route, between Pylons eight and ten.
Measurements: The pylon extended 65.6m in length, 11.9m in depth and rose to a height of
26.10m.
Phase: Horemheb

Horemheb built this pylon and its court to further elaborate the southern processional, previously
marked by the start of construction on the tenth pylon to the south. Horemheb was responsible
for systematically dismantling the east Karnak temples of Akhenaten, and he utilized their
sandstone "talatat" blocks as building fill for the ninth pylon.
Ramesses II later added relief decoration along the walls between Pylon VIII and Pylon IX.
These scenes show the procession of the sacred bark during the Opet Festival. Ramesses II also
decorated the pylon's sandstone gateway.
Construction materials: sandstone
10

The tenth pylon is the furthest pylon south on the temple's southern processional route leading to
the Mut temple and Luxor temple.
Measurements: The pylon was 66.6m long, 12m wide, and reached a height of 21m. The rose
granite doorway was 15.62m high.
Phase: Amenhotep III

Amenhotep III began construction on the tenth pylon, but only the lowest courses were
completed before his death.
Construction materials: sandstone
Ramses II a terminat constructia, modificand decoratiile pentru a-l slavi pe el. A
acoperit Egiptul cu monumente care i glorific numele. Puterea lui Ramses II s-a
ntins n sud pan la deertul nubian, unde a construit 7 temple, cel mai
impresionant fiind cel de la Abu-Simbel. Peretele de stanca a fost transformat n 4
statui enorme ale faraonului, de 21 m nalime.
A fost construit n deertul ndeprtat datorit calitii remarcabile a pietri, locaiei
n apropierea Nilului i a faptului c oricine venea din sud era uimit pe loc de
mreiaEgiptului. Nubia era important prin minerit i datorit negustorilor din Sud.
Departe de Teba,regiunea nu era supus de puternicii preoi de la Karnak. Aici
Ramses putea acorda mai puin atenie zeilor, concentrandu-se mai mult asupra
propriei sale imagini, fr s ncalce teritoriul dominat de zeul Amon. Pereii sunt
decorai cu ilustrri ale victoriilor i realizrilor sale.
n sanctuarul central, Ramses este nfiat alturi de zei, n mijloc, lang Amon-Ra.
Atunci cand lumina soarelui ptrunde n aceast parte a templului, lumineaz figura
faraonului i a celorlali zei, exceptandu-l pe Ptah, zeul ntunericului. Alinierea
statuilor sacre n funcie de razele soarelui era des ntalnit n antichitate, dar acest
templu difer prin faptul c statuia lui Ptah a fost poziionat n aa fel ncat sa nu
fie luminata niciodat.
n anii 60, cand a fost construit barajul de la Assuan, templul a riscat s fie inundat
de apele n cretereale lacului Nasser. 51 de ri au contribuit prin UNESCO pentru a
salva monumentul. Peretele de stanca si templul au fost taiate atent n buci de 30
t.
It is certain, based upon the extensive art work throughout the interior of the Great
Temple, that the structures were created, at least in part, to celebrate Ramesses'
victory over the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BCE.
The Great Temple stands 98 feet (30 metres) high and 115 feet (35 metres) long
with four seated colossi flanking the entrance, two to each side, depicting Ramesses
II on his throne; each one 65 feet (20 metres) tall. Beneath these giant figures are
smaller statues (still larger than life-sized) depicting Ramesses' conquered enemies,
the Nubians, Libyans, and Hittites. Further statues represent his family members
and various protecting gods and symbols of power. Passing between the colossi,
through the central entrance, the interior of the temple is decorated with
engravings showing Ramesses and Nefertari paying homage to the gods. Ramesses'
great victory at Kadesh (considered by modern scholars to be more of a draw than
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an Egyptian triumph) is also depicted in detail across the north wall of the Hypostyle
Hall. According to the scholars Oakes and Gahlin, these engravings of the events
surrounding the battle,