CULT TEMPLES:

Temple of Karnak
circa 2055 BC to circa 100 AD
About:
• The largest religious building ever constructed.
• The temple of Karnak was known as Ipet-isu—or “most select of
places”—by the ancient Egyptians.

• Cult temple dedicated to Amun, Mut and Khonsu.

• The complex contains a group of Temples such as the Great

Temple of Amon Ra, The Temple of Khonso, The Ipt Temple,
The Temple of Ptah, the Temple of Montho and the Temple of
the God Osiris.

• A 20m high, mud brick enclosure wall, surrounded all of the

buildings.
History:
• Construction began in 16th Century BC ad continued to Greco-Roman
Period- up to 1300 years of construction

• After a century of foreign rule, the New Kingdom (1550-1150 BC) of Egypt
emerged, with its capital at Thebes

• The temple complex was dedicated to Pharoah Amun(center of his

worship), his wife Mut and his son Khons

• When the pharoah Akhenaton abandoned the traditional worship of Amun and took
up the worship of Aten(sun god), he built a temple to Aten at Karnak. But after his
death, the Theban priests destroyed all signs of sun worship at Karnak elsewhere.
a. first pylon b. the great court
c. Ramesses III chapel d. Hypostyle Hall
e. Tuthmosis III Hall f. the sacred lake
g. Thutmose III pylon h. temple of Khonsu
Function:
• In the Egyptian language, the Temple of Amun is usually referred to as PerAmun, or

“the house of Amun.”

• In many ways, the temple indeed played the role of the godʼs abode on earth.

• godʼs statue was provided daily with food, drink, and sweet smelling incense and

oils.

• On special occasions, including many annual festivals, a godʼs statue would leave his

or her “house” and travel to visit cult temples in other locations.

Gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu
The god Amun, the god to whom much of central Karnak was dedicated, was linked in
the Egyptian panthe-on with the goddess Mut and their son, the god Khonsu.

Amun, the “hidden one,” most often wore a fl at-topped headdress with two tall
plumes.

Mut, whose name in the Hieroglyphic alphabet was spelled with a sign for the vulture,
was often depicted
wearing a distinctive headdress with the vultureʼs wings covering her hair.

Khonsu, associated with the moon, usually wore a crown with a crescent and moon
disk. He could
be depicted both as a child, wearing the side ponytail that marked childhood
in Egyptian society
Pictures:
Columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak.
Columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak.
 CULT TEMPLES:
Temple of Luxor
circa 1400 BCE
About:
• A large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank
of Nile River in Luxor (modern), Thebes (ancient)

• Known as ipet resyt, "southern sanctuary"

• still dedicated to the Theban triad

• connected to Karnak Temple by avenue of sphinxes in ancient times

• unlike Karnak, Luxor is mainly the work of one pharoah-

Amenhotep III
Entrance, with Courtyard of
Nectanbo and Pylon of Ramses II

one of the standing colossi is Queen Nefartari made in pink granite

Two massive seated statue of Ramses II guard the huge gateway(pylon)
Great pylon of Ramses II (first
massive pylon)

an avenue of human headed sphinxes of over one and a half miles connection to Karnac
Used once a year during festivals, in which an image of Amun travels from Karnac
Dromos (approach) with Sphinxes, west
side and obelisk at the main entrance

an avenue of human headed sphinxes of over one and a half miles connection to Karnac
Used once a year during festivals, in which an image of Amun travels from Karnac
Southwest corner and west Collonade of
the Courtyard of Ramses II

Passing through the pylon entrance, the courtyard has numerous statues of the pharoah
the Collonade of Amenhotep III and the
Mosque (Abu 'I-Haggag)

Has seven pairs of 52-foot(16m) high open flower papyrus columns, which supported
References:
• http://www.ask-aladdin.com/Temples-of-Egypt/luxortemple.html

• http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/luxortemple.htm

• http://www.ask-aladdin.com/Temples-of-Egypt/Temple-of-karnak.html#

• http://discoveringegypt.com/karnak-temple/

• http://dlib.etc.ucla.edu/projects/Karnak/assets/media/resources/IntroductionToT
heTempleOfKarnak/guide.pdf

• http://www.sacred-destinations.com/egypt/luxor-karnak-temple