THE TEMPLE OF KARNAK
The dimensions of the Great Temple of Amun are staggering. It is the largest temple columns of the monument world.A which could contain, said prominent historians, Notre-Dame de Paris whole; so vast that it "would cover at least half of the area of Manhattan" wrote Leonard Cottrell. The most amazing part is undoubtedly the impressive pillared hall with 102 meters wide, its 53 meters deep and its hundred and thirty four columns 23 meters high that rise, and this time we really dare say , defying the siècles.Les capitals shaped open papyrus, have the top nearly 15 meters in circumference and fifty people could be seated. This is strictly a real "forest of columns" whose dimensions and shadow play of light and create untold emotions.
Facing the ruins of Karnak, David Roberts, in 1839, was dazzled into believing that no drawings could not make what he wanted to speak:
"It is so superior to anything I've seen so far I do not even find a comparison ... The circumference of the main columns is 33 feet 6 inches; next to them a man seems a pygmée.Les blocks toppled to the ground on all sides are so huge that we do not understand how they could beings slaughtered, and of course how it was possible to build the ... "
Roberts was right: if his drawings, with small groups of men that we see, manage to give an idea of the proportions of Karnak buildings, they are not enough to make us live the emotion felt by somebody one that as he found it personally.
"It is so superior to anything I've seen so far I do not even find a comparison ... The circumference of the main columns is 33 feet 6 inches; next to them a man seems a pygmée.Les blocks toppled to the ground on all sides are so huge that we do not understand how they could beings slaughtered, and of course how it was possible to build the ... "
Roberts was right: if his drawings, with small groups of men that we see, manage to give an idea of the proportions of Karnak buildings, they are not enough to make us live the emotion felt by somebody one that as he found it personally.
Under the Nineteenth Dynasty, 81,322 people, among priests, guards, workers and peasants, working for the temple of Amun, otherwise the profis many lands, markets and sites returned to him, and the wealth and loot Pharaoh brought back from his victorious military campaigns.
Several pharaohs succeeded in achieving the pillared hall: Amenhotep III erected the twelve columns of the nave which support the architraves; Ramses I did begin decorating, which was continued by Seti I and Ramses II.
Besides the pillared hall, there were obelisks of Tuthmosis I (today it remains one) that stood 23 meters high and weighing 143 tons. The one erected his daughter Hatshepsut is even higher.
Several pharaohs succeeded in achieving the pillared hall: Amenhotep III erected the twelve columns of the nave which support the architraves; Ramses I did begin decorating, which was continued by Seti I and Ramses II.
Besides the pillared hall, there were obelisks of Tuthmosis I (today it remains one) that stood 23 meters high and weighing 143 tons. The one erected his daughter Hatshepsut is even higher.