For the ancient Egyptians Karnak was the most sacred place on Earth. For today’s tourists Karnak is the second most popular destination in Egypt after the Pyramids of Giza. Karnak for you could be the eighth wonder of the world. Many connect Egypt mostly mysterious pyramids, with the mystery of the Sphinx and of course – with the capital Cairo. But how many people realize that in one of the most magnificent ancient empires, there are more than one attractive and equally mysterious places? And Karnak is one of them. Karnak is the most comprehensive religion place ever existed on Earth. In the largest open air museum, collected temples, shrines and symbols, salute the most important deities ancient Egypt. People called this sacred ground “Ipet – Sut” – the most revered site. More than 30 pharaohs for nearly 2000 care to keep alive the cult of the sun, moon, earth and everything sublime, which they believed they and their subjects. Organization lavish celebrations in honor of their patrons, grew statue of the Chief god Amon – Ra, recreating symbolic meeting with the female principle, they believed in the healing power of faith in divine protection. Today most of the temples of Karnak in the territory are inaccessible to ordinary tourists. Some are in the process of restoration, while others are so destroyed that the only way to preserve the rest has access to them is limited. But the most important building to the temple which is worshiped even Pharaoh himself – that of Amon-Ra, greets visitors at any time of year. Circumference of the main temple at Karnak will satisfy your interest in antiquity, with symbolism and knowledge, and maybe your dream will come true.
The most sacred place for the ancient Egyptians – Karnak, spreads over an area of 840 hectares in the territory of Upper Egypt (southern Egypt, through which passes the upper reaches of the Nile). It lies about 2 km. northeast of the city of Luxor and about 500 km from the capital Cairo today. More than 2000, most large set of antique buildings in the world, was part of the ancient capital of Thebes (whose place later appeared Luxor) and named after the nearby village of El – Karnak. Much of the unsolved mysteries of the complex still lie under the modern Luxor. The temple of the goddess Mut at Karnak has an outlet to the small sacred lake Ishru (whose ruler was it) in the form of a horseshoe, which are supposed to be dug by Amenhotep III, and which today is used in religious rituals.
The importance of the Karnak temple takes place only as a reign of the Eleventh dynasty in Egypt in 2134, at which time Amun – Ra as a main local god. The construction of temples (including the Temple of Amun), however, started much later – during the eighteenth dynasty (1550-1292 BC) and continues until the first centuries BC. The first large-scale construction began Pharaoh Thutmose I, who wall all previous and adds new sites (several pillars, columns, two obelisks). Recognizing the importance of this sanctuary, each ruler with new buildings contribute to the expansion of the complex, among them prominent case of the pharaohs Thutmose III (who decided to erase all traces of the management of the daughter of Thutmose I – Queen Hatshepsut) and Amenhotep III. The construction of Karnak is a long and controversial, but the ongoing process associated with the destruction of many existing elements and build in their place to other – symbolizing the new government. Complex gradually expanded and reached the waters of the Nile, from which it draws resources. Around Karnak are built thick and high protective walls with huge stone doors. One of the most significant is the time of Pharaoh Ptolemy III (III century BC) to the Temple of Khonsu (the Moon God, the son of Amun and Mut), which connects the complex with Thebes, and some of the surrounding temples by Alley sphinxes.
For the first time in Europe to speak in Karnak in 1589 in an unknown Venetian records. They, however, the complex name is not mentioned. It became known only in 1668 by the journey of two brothers who visited the area. Since then, these lands are the subject of ongoing interest – both by researchers and by tourists.
Many heard of Karnak, is mostly associated with the Temple of Amon – Ra. Probably because this is the only object of the complex open to visitors. But besides it, the vast territory of Karnak to have a few older idols of the temple, dozens of smaller churches, chapels, offices, statues, shrines, sacred lake. Many of them were destroyed over time but the most important elements are preserved until today to show the importance of religion in the lives of ancient Egyptians. God – Amon Ra was the sun of the divine Theban triad Amon Ra – Mut – Montu. As a chief god (recognized as such in the pharaoh Thutmose III), the temple erected in his honor is the first and most impressive. It occupies the largest area by area in Karnak (which is provisionally divided into three parts) and covers about 250,000 square meters, dotted with countless monuments and elements. But the most impressive, and perhaps the most important part of the Temple of Amon Ra at Karnak hall is made up of 134 pillars of height 13-23 meters. Its construction began during the reign of Pharaoh Seti I (1294 – 1279 BC) and was completed when his successor, Ramses II (1279 – 1213 BC). From this spectacular bird’s eye resembles a cathedral architectural wonder, but in size and grandeur can be considered unique. Part of the Temple of Amon – Ra at Karnak are smaller temples – the goddess Ipet (mother of Osiris), the moon god Khonsu (the son of Amun and Mut), the patron of the arts and crafts Ptah and his wife Hathor, the pharaohs Ramses II, Ramses III and Amenhotep III. On the western entrance of the temple was built the first park in the alley geometric style – called Walk with rams (because it is surrounded by palm trees and stone statues with heads of rams). And this is not accidental. Often Amon Ra has been identified namely the image of a ram. Walk stretches from east to west and at one end leads to the hall and another came down to the shore of the channel, powered by the waters of the Nile. Probably walk around in the Temple of Amun – Ra at Karnak you will see many pillars (the first of which is the entrance to the façade), with obelisks and hieroglyphic symbol for eternal life Ancus. To this reserved part of Egyptian architecture, which will surely understand that this is a grand thing.
South of the Temple of Amon – Ra is the second in size and importance in the Karnak temple – the goddess of the parent (mother, wife and daughter of Amon – Ra) Mut. It is the second member of the Divine Triad, and is known as the goddess Sekhmet with the lion head. The temple covers about 150,000 square meters area and connects to the Great Temple through the lane again with sphinxes. On its territory there are several smaller temples, here is a sacred lake and also here during excavations have been found 600 statues of black granite (which is now kept in the Brooklyn Museum of dealing with studies of the temple since 1976). Third Temple in Karnak, much smaller in size than the other two (only 20,000 square meters), but equally important God is the Temple of Montu. Montu is the god of war in ancient beliefs and adopted son of Mut. It is located north of the main temple and contact him through several massive gates. The most important sites of this temple is the temple of Montu, Temple of Harpre, Temple Mahath and the gate of Ptolemy III. There were all the traditional elements of Egyptian temple, but today is not just about anything else stored.
Outside the temple complex of Divine Triad (the east, behind the main temple) but an integral part of Karnak is the temple of pharaoh Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten called himself – Pa). The temple was destroyed after the death of its founder, but excavations can be judged that consisted of 4 parts – all bearing individual names associated with God or with the sun – Sun. Within the main temple were found statues of red granite and sand, and other statues, sphinx. Part of the Temple of Amenhotep IV was used later in the expansion of the temple of Amon – Ra. Karnak is a walk in an exciting and unforgettable experience. Each stone has its history and belonged to a specific element of the complex. Each statue was hewn with soul and precision, as though every moment will speak. You can not read the ancient hieroglyphics, but you can feel age power of the ancient empire, preserved in stone. You feel watched by dozens of pairs of eyes, passing on the Alley with the rams, which seemed as wars monitor your every step. And when you reach the large statue sacred to the Egyptians beetle – scarab, carved from pink granite of one of the squares of Karnak, be sure to perform the ritual of every tourist, stepped within the most sacred place – round 7 times the monument and make a wish mind something. Wishes come true in Karnak.
Tags: acient place, Cairo, Egypt, Karnak, mysterious pyramids, Pyramids of Giza, sacred place