Karnak Temple

Karnak Temple was part of the ancient city of Thebes, which was the capital of the unified ancient Egypt beginning around 1300 BC (18th Dynasty). It’s the largest ancient religious site in the world – many sections are closed to the public. Approximately thirty pharaohs contributed to the buildings over many centuries, and include the worship of many different deities in the timeline of Egypt’s ancient history, up to the Christian era.

This avenue of hundreds of sphinxes connected the temples of Karnak and Luxor, and was only discovered recently during excavation for building construction in the present city.  Much of the mile-long avenue is still buried.

One end of the sphinx avenue ends at the entrance to Karnak Temple.

One of the friendly-looking animals protecting a Pharaoh or God.

A wider view of the main entrance.

A few columns inside this enormous site.

One of the courtyards.

A large temple at the far end of the complex.

Hatshepsut had this obelisk constructed, now the tallest surviving ancient obelisk. It can be seen on the right in the photo above this one.

The Hypostyle Hall is famous -134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows, covered with carvings.

These hieroglyphs painted on the underside of the stones over the columns are still colorful after thousands of years.