 | Luxor Karnak Temple Reviews | Tips 21 - 30 of 178 |  |
At the northwest corner of the Sacred Lake lies beetle shaped scarab that watches over the lake. The Scarab was placed here by King Amenhotep III. It symbolizes the transforming quality of the sunlight that comes out of the darkness.
Our guide Misha told us that there is tradition - such belief - if you go round the Scarab 7 times and imagine some wish, it will fulfill. :-)
I don't know. .. Maybe... Leave a Comment
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Karnak, called ''the most perfect of places'' (Ipet-Isut), was the most important place of worship during the Theban period.
From the 11th dynasty the Theban rulers have built, changed, enlarged, restored, dismantled the place without a logical planning into a city of temples. The complex measures 1,5 KM by nearly 1KM. There are many temples, obelisks, sacntuaries. We visited Karnak three times and discovered every time something else. Leave a Comment Directions: Luxor, eastbank Nile, three KM north of the Luxormuseum. Nice to go by bike.
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There are many obeliks in the temple complex of Karnak. During our first visit we found one laying down. So we could have a close look at all the engravings.
Don't miss the sound and light show. it's a nice chance to visit the temple complex by night. There are 3 shows a evening in different languages. You walk through the complex and the show will end at the sacred lake. The shows tells the story of Thebes in a spectacular way. Leave a Comment
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This is entrance in Seventh pylon of Thutmosis III.
Thutmose III is compared with Napoleon but unlike Napoleon he never lost a battle. He succeeded his stepmother Hatshepsut to the throne and was then responsible for a number of highly successful military campaigns to expand and secure Egypt's boundaries. The reign of Tuthmosis III marked an increase in the power, wealth and influence of Egypt which became the pre eminent power in the area at this time. He also set up a number of obelisks in Egypt. One of which, mistakenly called Cleopatra's Needle, now stands on the Embankment in London. It's brother is in Central Park in New York. Another is near the Lateran in Rome and there is also one of his obelisks in Istanbul. Leave a Comment
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The ancient Egyptians observed Scarab beetles rolling their balls of dung in which they lay their eggs, and burying them underground. They thought the sun was rolled around the sky in the same way, and like the ball of dung, the sun descended down into the under world each night. As the ball of dung gave birth to another generation of beetles so the sun was reborn each morning bringing warmth and life to the earth. The Egyptians called Scarab beetles Khepera. Many of the kings themselves took the name of Kheper as part of their own name.
You can see tourist go around this scarab - local tourist guides tell us that if you go around 3 times you will get married and if you go 7 times all your wish will come true. So we tryed. Result - I didn't married till now. Maybe this bug don't work on me :) Leave a Comment
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This is obelisk with cartouche of Amenophis III.
Amenophis III (or Amenhotep) was an 18th dynasty king who ruled at a time when Egypt was at the peak of her glory. He lived a life of pleasure, building huge temples and statues, but unlike his predecessors, encouraged realism in art. A rarity among Egyptian kings, he married Tiyi, a non-royal. Most royal marriages are not ordinarily made of love there is normally a political motive. But there is evidence of Amenhotep?s genuine regard for Tiyi. It is recorded that, in her Town of T?aru he made for her a lake 3600 cubits long by 600 cubits wide. He then held a festival on this lake with himself and Tiyi sailing a boat called the ?Disk of Beauties?. Leave a Comment
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Although a big part of that structure is in ruins today, one can still imagine, why the Egyptians called this Ipet Isut (the prfect place).
The biggest Temple are of all times (!) was built over a time of 1500 years. With 1.5km lenghth and about 0.7km wide it hosts easily the Peters Dome, Notre Dame and Milan at the same time.
When Theben was Egypts capital city, Karnak was its religious Centre It was also residence of the Pharao, Center of the Gouvernment and very rich. To the Temple belonged 65 Villages, 2400 square kilometers land 83 Ships and about 1/2 Million Cattle.
Karnak consisted of 3 parts. The main part - dedicated to god Amun was located in the Center and the big Amun Temple together with holy lake. Most visitors think this is all, but that is not true. In the south the district of Amuns wife Mut is adjacent and in the north the district of the old theban falcon god Montu.
A lot of Pharaos have built at this Complex, Hatschepsut, Thutmosis III, Sethos I und Ramses II. and many more. In the later times the Ptolomäer, Römer and early Christians left their traces. Leave a Comment
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This sacred area, about 750 km south of Cairo on the east side of the Nile, had a small shrine to local deity during the 12th Dynasty. However, it developed over a period of about 2000 years into an enormous complex dedicated to the king of the Egyptian gods: Amon-Ra. It was trashed twice-by Akhenaten and by the early Christians-and is still being excavated with parts of earlier buildings found as building rubble in later additions. Leave a Comment
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The Sound and Light show tells the story of the magnificent Temple of Karnak . Show was interesting. Deep-sounding voice starts to tell the story of temple, there are lights and music. All together.
But my greater impression was at the Hypostyle hall. In that night was full moon. And one moment the Hypostyle hall was lighted up in cold blue colour, and this full moon over the columns.... Feelings were very impressive. And sight was very impressive, too.
When after the Sound and Light show with friends we discussed the show - this full moon and cold blue coloured lights in the Hypostyle hall were things that were left in our memory.
The programme of the Sound and Light show is presented in Arabic, English, French and German.
Entrance: 33 LE Leave a Comment
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All Egyptian temples had a sacred lakes, but Karnak's is the largest.
The Karnak's Sacred Lake is 129 x 77 meters.
The priests used water from the sacred lake to perform the rituals. And the Sacred Lake was used during festivals when images of the gods would sail across it on golden barges. Leave a Comment
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