The first tour on the East Bank of Luxor was the Temple of Karnak. It is the largest ancient religious site in the world built by man, and the second most visited historical site in Egypt; second only to the Giza Pyramids in Cairo. It consists of three main parts, of which the largest, the Temple of Amun-Re (Sun God), is only open to tourists. The Karnak differs from the other ancient sites in Egypt by the length of time it took for it to be developed and built. Construction began in the 16th century B.C. (Middle Kingdom) and then spanned over the next 1300 years. Approximately thirty pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size and complexity not seen anywhere else. It had 134 columns arranged in various rows throughout. Incidentally, 60 columns still remain standing today, and range between 70 to 82 ft tall. Thousands of hieroglyphics cover the sandstone columns and surrounding walls of the complex. The Karnak Temple is the culmination of four main temples, several small enclosed temples, and a number of outer temples occupying 247 acres. The temples of Mut, Monto, and Amenhotep IV (the latter lies dismantled) are enclosed by an enormous sandstone brick wall. The main temple of Amun-Re, the only one open to the public, sits in the center of the complex and encompasses 60 acres. Karnak is the modern day name of the complex site, but in ancient times it was called "Ipet-isut - the most sacred of places". Queen Hatshepsut contributed four obelisks to the complex, but only two remain standing today. That evening we returned to the Karnak Temple for the "Sound and Light Show", which consisted of an hour long narrated program that utilized colored floodlights for dramatic effect. The lights lit up areas of the temple that correlated with historical events of the narration. The beauty of the sandstone, brilliantly lit against the blackness of the night, made for a mesmerizing program. This site was, without a doubt, the most magnificent ruin I've ever visited. It was a humbling and jaw dropping experience. A must see for all ruins-seekers!
