Karnak Temple

The Karnak temple complex in Luxor took shape over more than a thousand years, mainly between the Twelfth and Twentieth Dynasties. At its height, it was the biggest and most significant religious site in ancient Egypt. The standout feature is the Temple of Amun-Ra, which is the largest religious building ever constructed and believed to be the earthly home of the god Amun-Ra, along with his wife Mut and son Khonsu, who also have their own temples there. The Temple of Amun-Ra is especially renowned for its massive Hypostyle Hall, built during Seti I’s reign. After Memphis became the new capital, many of Luxor’s temples lost their prominence. In later years, Ptolemaic rulers and Coptic Christians made changes to parts of the complex for their own purposes.