Karnak Research Paper

762 Words2 Pages

Hook (quote). The Temple of Karnak located by Luxor, south of Cario, Egypt, although originally the temple was surrounded by the famous city Thebes. These 18th dynasty structures still remain today. The Temple of Karnak is known as one of the world’s most vast and complex temples, covering an area of 100 hectares. The temple gets … through its doors everyyear; making it one of the most visited historical sites in the world. Hypothesis- The Temple of Karnak provides archaeological evidence of the complex religious and political structures that were existent in ancient Egypt. The Temple of Karnak, which was created and developed by many pharaohs between around 2055 BC to around 100 AD is a poignant reflection of the archaeological and cultural …show more content…

Almost every pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty made additions to the site. Significant changes were made to the city of Thebes with the beginning of the New Kingdom as the temple underwent major expansions and it became one of the most important temples in Egypt. In the 18th Century ambitious additions to the temple were made by Amenhotop I, Thutmose I and Thutmose II who extended the temple creating new cult spaces. The political history of Egypt is also shown throughout the halls of the temple. Each pharaoh expressed their own experiences and they validated these through imagery throughout the temple. Oil paintings and engravings tell the story of the rulers lives including their rise and fall from power. Thurtmose lll’s wife made many additions to the temple including adding the eighth pylon. She also added a series of papyri-form columns in the Wadjet hall. Another part of the temple was redesigned this being the section in the Middle Kingdom temple. The additions were a series of rooms around the innermost temple named “palace of Ma’at.” Other parts of the Temple were modified them being a pair of monoliths on the east side of the temple. Historians have used this imagery to gain a better understanding of the pharaoh lives and by extension the significant events in ancient Egyptian society. Linking …show more content…

Pharaohs stared to use The Temple of Karnak to demonstrate their significance and godly status. In the columned hall with Thutmose l and the god Amun sanctioning the choice, coronation rituals would take place. Many parts of the temple show different styles and have different meanings, this is because for every new pharaoh a new structure was added. Religion in ancient Egypt was a very important part of Egyptian society, it was their way of life. They would do everything to please the gods, pharaohs in ancient Egypt were considered gods. The political system in ancient Egypt had the tendency to change an excessive amount. Kings would build monumental temples to prove the superior status and their authentic right to rule the nation. The temples would be covered in imagery portraying them praising, making offerings and embracing their theology. The Temple of Karnak created much political controversy in ancient times because much of the imagery and writing on the walls of the temple had been rewritten to conform to the in pharaohs ideals. This often juxtaposed the period’s academic thought and social discourse. (digitalkarnak ,ucla, Keller 2005, Dorothea 2005, Dorman 2005,Dorman 2005, 6) “The Karnak temple served as the main focus for “re-writing” history, showing the importance of this structure in royal presentation.” This statement furthers the

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