The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak
An architectural wonder of the ancient world
The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak is an architectural wonder of the ancient world. A wonder so well preserved and restored that visitors can truly get a sense of how magnificent it would have been when first built.Â
A Hypostyle Hall is a room with the roof supported by columns. The roof here is long gone, but this allows sunlight to stream into what would once have been a dimly lit sacred space.Â
Coming in through the entrance to the Great Hypostyle Hall today is impressive enough, but once inside the central columns come into view and it’s a true wow moment.Â
I was lucky to have an amazing experienced guide to this enormous site in Egyptologist Medhat Saad when on tour with Dr Chris Naunton and Ancient World Tours.Â
Medhat explained there are 134 columns which range from 15-22 meters tall. Some of the columns look like the papyrus plant in bloom.Â
The inscriptions and reliefs are absolutely amazing here. I just couldn’t stop gazing upwards in wonder at the quality of the art work.
Restoration work is being done to remove sand and dust accumulated over three thousand years and it allows the original inscriptions, engravings, reliefs and colours of the columns to return.Â
This project began in 2021 and it is truly incredible to get a sense of the workmanship of the original temple builders and the talented modern conservators.Â
The Great Hypostyle Hall is just one part of the enormous Karnak Temple, reputed to have been one of the largest religious centres in the world during its peak in The New Kingdom.Â
The temple is dedicated to the sun god Amun-Ra and was started around 1250 BC by one of Egypt’s most powerful 19th Dynasty Pharaohs Seti I, and completed by his successor Ramesses II.Â
The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak is an architectural wonder of the ancient world. It is a must-see site for every visitor to Egypt.Â
Karnak Temple is situated in the city of Luxor and is one of the most visited ancient sites in Egypt today. Every visitor should allow one or two days for Karnak Temple on their itinerary, it’s that good!
See the website for the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for more on Luxor Temple.
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~ Allan Campion