Karnak

Karnak (ancient Hermonthis), village in eastern Egypt, on the River Nile. Karnak occupies the northern half of the site of ancient Thebes. The southern half is occupied by the village of Luxor. The fame of Karnak rests upon the ruins of a group of temples built here when Thebes was a centre of the Egyptian religion, beginning about the 11th Dynasty in 2123 bc. The temples, with their walled enclosures of rude brick and connecting avenues of sphinxes, extend over nearly 3 sq km (1 sq mi). Two small enclosures surround temples built in honour of the god Mentu and the goddess Mut by Amenhotep III. The greatest and most important temple, that of the god Amon, was begun by Senusret I and was completed by Ramses II, although additions continued to be made until the 1st century bc. The temple of Amon stands in an enclosure measuring about 140 sq m (1,500 sq ft). Its most outstanding feature is a hypostyle hall, the roof of which rests on 122 columns that are more than 21 m (70 ft) high and built in nine rows. Reliefs and inscriptions cover the walls, and obelisks, statues, and pylon gates are found throughout the enclosure. Systematic excavation and restoration of the temple began in the late 19th century. In 1979 Karnak, together with the entire Thebes complex, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.