Karnak covers 200–247 acres! The Great Hypostyle Hall has 134 massive columns once painted in vibrant colors, with Ramesses II military reliefs. The complex developed over roughly 2,000 years, from around 2000 BC through the Ptolemaic period.
Karnak Temple: About 2,000 Years of Construction, 2000 BC to Ptolemaic Times
EgyptGeneral
Key facts
- The complex took roughly 2,000 years to evolve, from about 2000 BC through the Ptolemaic period.
- Construction began under Senusret I around 1970 BC and continued into Ptolemaic times.
- Alexander and his Macedonian successors honored Amun, whom the Greeks identified with Zeus-Ammon.
- Akhenaten (formerly Amenhotep IV) shifted the state cult from Amun to Aten, represented by the sun disk.
- Akhenaten closed Karnak's traditional shrines and moved the capital to Akhetaten (Amarna), while maintaining an Aten temple at Karnak.
- After Akhenaten's death, Amarna was abandoned and later stripped for stone, some of which was reused at Karnak.
- The complex covers roughly 200–247 acres.
- The Great Hypostyle Hall contains 134 massive columns that were once brightly painted.
- Walls still preserve detailed military reliefs honoring Ramesses II.
Sources
Great Hypostyle Hall - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Central columns of the Hypostyle Hall. The Great Hypostyle Hall covers an area of 5,000 m2 (1.2 acres). The roof, now fallen, was supported by 134 columns ...
OIP 142. The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun at Karnakisac.uchicago.edu
Standing at the heart of Karnak Temple, the Great Hypostyle Hall is a forest of 134 giant sandstone columns enclosed by massive walls.
inside karnak - PBSpbs.org
The Great Hypostyle Hall is one of the most magnificent monuments of ancient Egypt. Possibly begun by Amenophis III, this veritable forest of soaring pillars ...
Welcome - Hypostyle - The University of Memphismemphis.edu
At the heart of Karnak, the Nineteenth Dynasty pharaoh Sety I (reigned ca. 1291-1279 BCE) erected his Great Hypostyle Hall, a colossal forest of 134 giant ...
Karnak Temple Hypostyle Hall - Discovering Egyptdiscoveringegypt.com
The hall covers an area of 50,000 sq ft (5,000 sq meters) and filled with 134 gigantic stone columns with 12 larger columns standing 80 feet (24 m) high lining ...
Karnak Temple Complex Guide: History, What to See, Hoursmrandmrsegypt.com
A Brief History of Karnak. The oldest parts of Karnak date as far back as 2000 BCE, with various parts built up and expanded by approximately 30 ...
Karnak Temple Timelinepreceden.com
Karnak Temple was developed over approximately 2,000 years, with contributions from more than 30 different pharaohs. The Great Hypostyle Hall, built mainly ...
Karnaken.wikipedia.org
Construction at the complex began during the reign of Senusret I (reigned 1971–1926 BC) in the Middle Kingdom ( c. 2000–1700 BC) and continued into the ...
Was this story useful?
Keep exploring
Every site on this page sits on the globe, and the people who research them are on the Discord.
3D Globe · Sites by country · Story Archive · Research Library · Weekly Journal · Search
AI-generated text · images from the original sources · always verify with the sources.