The New Kingdom Temple of Khonsu at Karnak

The New Kingdom Temple of Khonsu at Karnak

Located within the large Precinct of Amun-Re at Karnak in Luxor, this New Kingdom temple was originally constructed by Ramesses III on the site of an earlier temple.

In the heart of the Precinct of Amun-Re, situated within the temple complex of Karnak in Luxor, Egypt, lies the Temple of Khonsu. This New Kingdom temple stands as an almost complete edifice, originally constructed by Ramesses III on the site of an earlier temple. The gateway of this temple was once located at the end of the avenue of sphinxes that ran to the Luxor Temple.

In Ptolemaic times, Ptolemy III Euergetes constructed a great gateway and enclosure wall for the temple - only the gateway now remains. Inscriptions inside the forecourt of the temple were made in the time of Herihor. The hypostyle hall was erected by Nectanebo I and is not of great size; inside were found two baboons that appear to have been carved in the time of Seti I. It probably belonged to the earlier building on the site.

Numerous blocks with unmatched and inverted decorations can be seen, showing the amount of reconstruction and reuse of material from the surrounding temple complexes, especially in Ptolemaic times. From 2006 to 2018, the American Research Center in Egypt performed conservation work on the site.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

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