MAGNIFICENT ANCIENTKARNAKTEMPLE

MAJESTIC EGYPT (Photo Blog V)

By Dr. Narasinha Kamath

..Continued from Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV

(Authors Note 1 : I have attached herewith a Flute Tune of the most famous Bhoopali song Ghanashyam Sundara played by me on my Flute. This song was composed by Vasant Desai for the Marathi Film : Amar Bhoopali of 1953. Even today, this song based on Raga Bhoopali is the most popular Bhoopali song all over MaharashtraState. I have attached this tune for your listening pleasure while reading my blog. I also played this tune on my Flute early morning in open Gardens of various hotels in Egypt).

When I and my wife entered the KarnakTemple complex, we both realized that this was the most MagnificentTemple we ever visited during our life time. The Temple complex is simply awe-inspring and mind-boggling. We had a great feeling while wandering around this GreatTemple built around 1500 BC whichat one time was visited by the Greatest Pharaoh King Ramases II and many more Pharaoh Kings including mysterious and powerful Queen Hatshepsut.

Karnak in ancient time was called as Ipet-Isut. The high priests who were very influential in olden days recognized that the Pharaoh King Ramases III (Son of Gretaest Pharaoh King Ramases II) was son of God Amun. Kings coronation was held in KarnakTemple after it was first built. In KarnakTemple, the most imposing structure is Ancient Egypts many sanctuaries.

Just inside the Karnak Temple Complex. (See the massive Pillers)(Photo 3)

Over the centuries one dynasty after another went on adding their own shrines to this Temple so as to leave their own marks for future generations to see their mighty glory. And this Temple became very huge. KarnakTemple is perhaps the most massive AncientTemple of the world.

Another photo of massive Pillars inside Karnak Temple (Photo 4)

Just before you enter the Temple, Avenue of Ram-Headed Sphinxes greet the visitors (See the photos below) which lead to the riverfront entrance. It is established by archeologists that effigy of creator God Amun was carried ceremoniously in a sacred boat from the river and then through the avenue of sphinxes so as to connect Karnak and LuxorTemple together. The most spectacular structure is the Great Hypostyle Hall which has 134 giant columns in 16 rows. All the pillars here are as high as 7-Storey buildings. All of these columns and walls are finely carved showing the glory of various Pharaoh Kings.


Inside View of Karnak Temple (Photo 8)


Another inside view of Karnak Temple (Photo 9)


Another View of Karnak Temple (Photo 10)


Statues oPharaoh King Ramases II in Karnak Temple (Photo 11)


More Statues of Pharaoh King inside Karnak Temple (Photo 12)


Another View of Karnak Temple (Photo 13)


Close up of Statues of King Ramases II (Photo 14)

One of the most spectacular carving is that of King Seti I and Ramases II (the Greatest Pharaoh King) making offerings to God Amun and also about their war victories. Only high priests, nobles, Royal Family members were allowed inside this Hypostyle Hall. No commoner was ever allowed to enter in this hall.

Next to this huge complex of KarnakTemple is the sacred lake where the communion of Gods was enacted in sacred boats. The colossal statues of Pharaohs and the obelisks lead to Hypostyle Hall. Next to Hypostyle hall is the chamber which has offerings for deities. And next to this chamber is Sanctum Sanctorum or the Holy of the Hollies which is Gods innermost sanctuary. This is also called as Great Temple of God Amun proper. The layout of KarnakTemple generally consists of a series of pylons of various dates. The earliest Pylons IV and V were constructed by Tuthmosis I. Court or halls run between the Pylons, leading to main sanctuary.

3 Statues of Pharaoh Kings inside Karnak Temple (Photo 15)

King Ramases III had staffed 80,000 people to administer the KarnakTemple.

The Montu precinct is the most important and significant architectural complex north of Amun-ReTemple. It was first built by Pharaoh King Amenhotep III. Its masonry includes the blocks from the monuments discarded by Amenhotep I, Hatshepsut-Tuthmosis III, Amenhotep II. The trials of grave robbers were held in this Temple complex many centuries ago.

Two statues of Amenhotep III have been found broken and buried under a chapel in the middle of the Temple complex. The monument Restoration Stella of King Tutenkhamun (popularly known as King Tut) was erected here. The eastern part of this Temple collapsed at the end of New Kingdom. However, it was reconstructed by Tahaka who also built great portico on the main facade.

Under the Rule of Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III, this complex consisted of only MutTemple and the sacred lake. The MutTemple was enlarged later during 18^th dynasty.

Few more Statues of Pharaoh Kings in Karnak Temple (Photo 18)

Another side view of Pharaoh Statues inside Karnak Temple (Photo 19)

Another photo of massive Pillars inside Karnak Temple (Photo 20)


Avenue of Ram-Headed Sphinxes at entrance of Karnak Temple(Photo 21)



Close of View of Ram-Headed Sphinxes at Karnak Temple Entrance (Photo 22)

The inscription on the carvings of this huge KarnakTemple was written using script Hieroglyphics. This was a system of writing or script which was developed in Egypt in 3,000 BC which was introduced by merchants from Mesopotamia (or modern Iraq). All the scared text is carved on the pillars and walls of KarnakTemple using Hieroglyphics. Also some of ancient religious text is also carved using Hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics or the ancient writing system consisted of combination of symbolic picture symbols with phonetic signs. The word Hieroglyphics is derived from Greek word for sacred stone engravings.

Had Hieroglyphics not been developed 5,000 years ago, much of the ancient history of Egypt had been lost in the mist of time. Hieroglyphics kept the ancient history of all dynasties of Pharaoh Kings alive so that it reached us even after 5,000 years.

Photographs: By Dr. Kamath and Lalita Kamath

Copyright 2007 Dr. N.R.Kamath

Reference: www.touregypt.net

(Authors Note 2 : I have given numbers to all the photos displayed in this blog, please let me know which photos you liked the most by writing a comment to this blog).

TO BE CONTINUED:

(Authors Note 3 : This is Part V of my Egypt Tour. In continuation of my Egypt Travelogue, in my next blogs I will cover about my 3 day cruise through the Nile River and also famous Temples of Edfu, Kom Ombo Temples and also the city of Aswan and the magnificent Temple of Abu Simbel built by famous Pharaoh King Ramses II).

Please CLICK PLAY button above to listen to my Flute Tune again.