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The Karnak Temple Complex

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Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. West Bank, Luxor, Nile Valley, Egypt

Karnak Temple is a vast open-air museum, it’s the largest temple all over the world. No site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnak. It’s not just one temple but three temples within each other, dedicated to the god Amun Ra, his wife goddess Mut, and their son god Khnsu.

This huge temple complex was the biggest cult center at Thebes (modern-day Luxor) during the time of the new kingdom 18th dynasty in 1500 BC. It took the ancient Egyptians more than 2000 years to build this temple, more than 30 kings contributed to the building each of them added something to satisfy the “Amun Ra” and that’s how it became the largest of the Egyptian temples.

The Holy Lake at Karnak Temple, Luxor, Egypt

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The Holy Lake at Karnak Temple is the largest of its kind and was dug by Tuthmosis III (1473-1458 BC). It measures 393 feet (120m) by 252 feet (77m) and is lined with stone wall and has stairways descending into the water.
The lake was used by the priests for ritual washing and ritual navigation. It was also home to the sacred geese of Amun (the goose being another symbol of Amun) and was a symbol of the primeval waters from which life arose in the ancient Egyptian’s idea of creation.
It was surrounded by storerooms and living quarters for the priests. There was also an aviary for aquatic birds.

The sacred lake at Karnak Temple, excavated by Tuthmosis III (1473-1458 BC), was used by priests for ritual washing, and was home to the sacred geese of Amun.