| 2nd
day (East bank)
-
The
Karnak
temple,
the biggest area dedicated to worship in the
world !!That is to say you will not have energy nor
courage to visit all at once. Nearly each Pharaoh from
the Middle Kingdom (~ 2000 BC) to the Ptolemaic period
(Greek Pharaohs descended from Alexander the Great) left
his mark here. The oldest constructions are located in
the centre of the site: from the entrance, you will
therefore go backwards in time. Points not to be missed
along the axis from the entrance are :
¤ the
first pylon, built by the last indigenous dynasty
(~ 360 BC) and that was never completed (no sculpture on
the walls) ;
¤ the
three shrines of the sacred barques of Seti II (~
1190 BC), on the left just after entering the first
Courtyard ;
¤ three
similar shrines of the sacred barques built by
Ramesses III (~1160 BC), on the right at the back of
the first Courtyard ;
¤ the second
pylon, built by Horemheb (~1300 BC), that is the
hugest construction in Karnak
with a 29.5 meter high door (30 centimetres higher than
the Arc de triomphe in Paris)
;
¤ the
Great Hypostyle Hall, begun by Seti I (~1280 BC)
and completed by his son Ramesses II. It is indeed the
most spectacular part of the temple with its 134 giant
columns, 23 metres high for the highest. Notice the
different styles of the reliefs, remarkably neat and
refined on the left walls, made under Seti I, compared
to those on the right wall made under Ramesses II
;
¤ the
Hatshepsut obelisk (~1490 BC), the second on
your way ;
¤ the
place of the Appearances, built by Tuthmosis
III
(~1530 BC) ;
¤ the
shrine of the sacred barque of
Amun built by Philip Arrhidaeus (~ 320 BC), the
brother of Alexander the Great ;
¤ the
Hatshepsut offering shrine, on the left of the
Philip Arrhidaeus shrine ;
¤ the
Akhmenu built by Tuthmosis
III
(~1530 BC) that mostly served on the occasion of
the King Sed festival ;
¤ the
Sacred Lake, a romantic place where you can have
a break and recover at the
temple
café.
If
you still have courage, or in case you come back, go and
visit the open air museum (complementary ticket
to be bought there) where a number of shrines have been
rebuilt, especially the White Chapel of Senusret I that
is a real wonder. You can also visit the Khunsu
temple, to the right of the site or the Ptah
temple, to the back of the site, on the left. -
a
felucca sail to allow your feet to
rest, to enjoy Nile-side landscapes, to watch the
beautiful sunset and to admire Egyptian sailors'
dexterity. In case the wind does not blow, go to the
Mummification
Museum,
on East bank, on the riverside, downstream near the
ferry.
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