Temple of Amun

Temple of Amun

Introduction

The Temple of Amun (The Amun Temple of Karnak) is located 4 kilometers north of Luxor town and is the main part of the Karnak Temple. Many visitors assume that the Temple of Amun represents the entirety of Karnak Temple, but in fact, Karnak Temple consists of three sections — the Temple of Amun dedicated to the sun god Amun, the temple of Mut, the war goddess and wife of Amun, and the Montu Temple. The avenues flanked by rows of sphinxes lead directly to the Luxor Temple. The Temple of Amun is dedicated to Amun, the chief deity of Thebes and the sun god. It was initially built over 3,000 years ago during the 17th Dynasty and expanded continuously over the next 1,300 years, featuring ten majestic gateways and three grand halls. The Hypostyle Hall of the Temple of Amun (as shown in the picture) is the most famous, housing 134 massive columns so large that it takes six people to encircle one, each standing 21 meters tall, reportedly able to hold around a hundred people on top. These stone pillars have withstood the test of over 3,000 years without a single one collapsing, which is truly remarkable. The columns, walls, and corridors of the temple are adorned with exquisitely carved reliefs and vibrant murals depicting ancient Egyptian myths and the daily life of people at the time. Additionally, the temple also houses the renowned obelisks and statues of pharaohs and their consorts. At the inner sanctuary of the temple lies the sacred barque, while outside there is a sacred lake where priests would perform ritual purification before ceremonies. Beside the sacred lake is a fallen obelisk and a scarab-shaped carving. Legend has it that unmarried women who run around the scarab sculpture seven times will soon find a husband. Ticket / Opening Hours Ticket: 20 Egyptian pounds for Karnak Temple, half price for students. Visiting hours: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Luxor, Egypt