Banister Fletcher- A history of architecture

The Great Temple of Ammon, Karnac, is the grandest, \ extending over an area of
1,200 feet by 360 feet, and originally \ was connected with the Temple of Luxor by
an avenue of sphinxes. It was not built on an original plan, but owes its size,
disposition and magnificence to the additions of many later kings, from the first
monarchs of the twelfth dynasty down to the Ptolemaic period. It has six pylons
added in successive genera- tions, a great court measuring 338 feet by 275 feet,
the great hypostyle hall, and other halls, courts and/ a sanctuary. The Hypostyle hall
measures 338 feet by 170 /feet, covering about the same area as Notre Dame,
Paris. The roof is supported by 134 columns in sixteen rows. The central avenues
are about 80 feet in height as compared with 140 feet at Amiens Cathedral, and
have columns 69 feet high and nf feet in diameter, the capitals of which are of the
lotus blossom type (No. 10 L) so as to receive the light from the" clerestory. The side
avenues are about 46 feet high and have columns 42 feet 6 inches in height and 9
feet in diameter, the Capitals being of the lojus t>u.<J type, on which the clerestory
light would fall. The impression pro- duced on the spectator by the forest of columns
is most awe- inspiring, and the eye is led from the smaller columns of the side
avenues, which gradually vanish into semi-darkness, giving an idea of unlimited
size, to the larger columns of the central avenues lighted by the clerestory, which is
formed in the differ- ence of height between the central and side avenues, a form of
lighting more fully developed in the Gothic period. The walls of the hall, the column
shafts, and the architraves are covered with incised inscriptions, still retaining their
original colored decora- tions relating to the gods and personages concerned in the
erection of the structure.

Documentar Cele 7 minuni ale Egiptului Antic

5. Complexul de temple de la Karnak

Cnd Teba a devenit centrul religios al Egiptului, templul de la Karnak a devenit scaunul
lui Amon, zeul statului egiptean. Karnak a ajuns curnd s gzduiasc peste 600 de
preoi. Cldirile complexului sau rspndit rapid la sud i vest de Nil. n centru se afl o
sal impresionant strjuit de o pdure de coloane, dintre care unele au nlimi de
peste 20 de metri. Tot aici se afl i obeliscul lui Hatshepsut care, cu impuntoarea
nlime de 30 de metri, este cel mai nalt mare care a supravieuit din Egiptul Antic.
Cntrind 323 de tone, acesta a fost sculptat dintr-o singur bucat de granit, adus de
la peste 600 de kilometri deprtare, din Aswan.

Wikipedia
Complexul de temple de la Karnak este situat pe malurile fluviului Nil unele 1,5 km, la nord de Luxor.
Se compune din patru pri principale, secia Amon-Re, secia Montu, incinta Mut i Templul lui
Amenhotep IV (demontate), precum i cteva temple mai mici i sanctuare situate n afara zidurilor
anexnd de patru pri principale, i mai multe ci de sfinci cu cap de berbec leag sec ia de Mut,
secia de Amon-Re i templul Luxor. Diferena esenial dintre Karnak i cele mai multe alte temple
din Egipt este durata de timp n care a fost dezvoltat i folosit. Lucrri de construc ii a nceput n
secolul al 16-lea .Hr. Aproximativ 30 de faraoni au contribuit la cldiri, care s le permit s ajung
la o dimensiune, complexitate i diversitate nemantalnite. Cteva dintre caracteristicile individuale
ale Karnakului sunt unice, dar dimensiunea i numrul de caracteristici este cople itor.

History of architecture

Next to Karnak in importance comes the Temple of Luxor in its immediate

neighborhood. It has two forecourts adorned with double-aisled colonnades and
connected by what seems to be an unfinished hypostyle hall.