The history of Temple of Karnak is largely the history of Thebes. The city appears with some significance at the time of Eleventh Dynasty. Some temples building were relatively small and unimportant, with some shrines being dedicated to the early god of Thebes, Montu. The earlier artifact found in the area of the temple is a small, eight sided column from the Eleventh Dynasty, which mentions Amun-RER. The tomb of Intef II mentions a “house of Amun”. The ancient name for Karnac , Ipet-Isut, usually translated as “most select of places”only really refers to the central core structure of the Precinct of Amun-Re and was in use till Ellevent Dinasty. By the time of Eleventh Dynasty Theban Kings had become rulers of all Egypt, the area of Karnak was already considerd holy ground. The unification of Egypt brought Amun, the tribal god of the region, imcreased powwer and wealth, and he was gradually merged with the Sun god Re, to become Amun-Re. Major expansion of the Temple complex took place during the Eighteen Dynasty. Amenhotep constructed a barque shrine and a gateway. Thuitmose I erected an enclosure wall around the Middle Kingdom Temple, connecting the Fourth and Fifth pylons. They contain fourteen papyrus columns and the two obelisks of Hatshepsut, which were later hidden from the view by the walls set up by Thutmose III.
We visited the Temple of Karnak two times – in the evening light to watch the sound-lights show and in day light to see all buildings of the Temple. All photo taken there are shown in this album.
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