Temple of Amun at Karnak

The Temple of Amun at Karnak (or Karnak Temple) is the largest temple in all of Egypt and it could take a very long time to truly explore it entirely. It took 1300 years to build it but we tried to hit the highlights in only three hours and we felt we only scratched the surface.

The first thing you notice about the temple is the massive scale. I've seen plenty of Discovery Channel and History Channel shows that show this temple but video cannot adequately prepare you for the scale. The columns are enormous as are the obelisks which are among the tallest of their kind in the world. This temple is simply overwhelming. We tried to learn something from our guide but there was just too much information to take in such a short visit.

After the guided portion we walked around on our own to the east side of the complex which is still mostly unrestored. There one of the Tourist Police tried to convince me to climb up on the stones for a better view in exchange for a "baksheesh" but I politely declined. We enjoyed the maze of passages and took in some of the painted walls and ceilings that were still in good condition.

Lily and Melanie bought books on translating Hieroglyphics and tried to read some of the inscriptions. Let's just say that it's much harder than it looks. One of the things the girls enjoyed was looking at a big squashed bug. Some Japanese tourists were amused by that and took pictures of the girls taking pictures of a bug.

At one point we saw a young man carrying what looked like was a very heavy duffel bag. Lily thought he was stealing stones and found a uniformed Tourist Police officer and told him about it. Lily thought the officer didn't understand her it became obvious that the guy with a duffel bag was just a Tourist Police offer under cover, like we've seen at other sites.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture
Approaching the First Pylon before dawn. Viewed: 27 times.	A small obelisk. Viewed: 29 times.	Lily in front of the row of Sphinxes. Viewed: 44 times.
Close-up of one of the Sphinxes. Viewed: 36 times.	Entering the gates. Viewed: 30 times.	The sun is finally coming up over the columns. Viewed: 30 times.
Unbelievable graffiti! Viewed: 34 times.	Mohammad translating the story told on this wall. Viewed: 36 times.	North side of the first courtyard. Viewed: 29 times.
Viewed: 36 times.	The dark line on the wall is the flood line. Viewed: 34 times.	Close-up of the statue to the room to the right of the main courtyard. Viewed: 35 times.
Leaving the room and returning to the courtyard. Viewed: 27 times.	Viewed: 32 times.	Viewed: 25 times.
The columns are simply massive. Viewed: 34 times.	Viewed: 26 times.	Viewed: 28 times.
Viewed: 29 times.	Early 3D effect. Viewed: 34 times.	The big obelisk through the columns. Viewed: 31 times.
Coronation scene. Viewed: 29 times.	Viewed: 28 times.	Behind that wall used to be a row of 3000 sphinxes that led all the way to Luxor Temple. Viewed: 33 times.
Obelisk still in great shape. Viewed: 32 times.	Melanie taking a picture of Lily and me taking a picture. Viewed: 29 times.	Ooh! Aah! Viewed: 28 times.
Viewed: 26 times.	A giant granite Scarab Beetle, a sign of good luck. Viewed: 45 times.	This beetle wasn't quite so lucky. Viewed: 36 times.
Restoring the temple using ancient Egyptian techniques? Viewed: 30 times.	Look back from the east end of the complex. Viewed: 34 times.	Lotus flower shaped columns. Viewed: 31 times.
Lily and Melanie try in vain to translate the hieroglyphics. Viewed: 35 times.	Lots of paint still visible on the ceiling. Viewed: 39 times.	Viewed: 29 times.
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The first carving I've seen showing a Pharaoh and a Queen touching. Viewed: 33 times.	Acres of fragments still to be re-assembled. Viewed: 25 times.	Interesting and very deep carvings. Viewed: 29 times.
Ok girls, look smart! Viewed: 62 times.	Unfinished columns that still need to be smoothed. Viewed: 28 times.	Viewed: 25 times.
Viewed: 28 times.	Avenue of the Sphinxes again. Viewed: 39 times.	Viewed: 27 times.

Video available: A clip of me walking around among the huge columns at the Temple of Karnak. (9 minutes 41 seconds) 256Kbps Broadband RealVideo Stream Viewed: 43 times.

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