The Temple of Karnak by Ask-Aladdin 2020 While the Temple of Karnak might be the largest temple in the world, the site is actually hosted to a group of temples, including the Great Temple of Amon Ra, The Temple of Khonso, The Ipt Temple, The Temple of Ptah, the Temple of Montho and the Temple of the God Osiris. A 20m high, mud brick enclosure wall surrounds all of these buildings. It is as if you are walking through a city built of temples and it is quite an amazing feeling to stroll through them. You can feel the ancient history. It is alive, as it swirls around you.
This great Temple of Amon Ra was known during the Middle Kingdom period as Ipt-Swt, which means the Selected Spot. It was also called Pr-Imn, or the House of Amon. The name Al-Karnak in Arabic was derived from Karnak, which means fortified village, probably because the Arabs found many temples and buildings in the area when they entered it for the first time. On your way towards the entrance, you will find a ram-headed avenue of Sphinxes, which was built to protect the Temple. There are 20 rams on each side, extending from the small harbor to the 1st Pylon, which was built during the time of King Nektanebo I (30th Dynasty). They still look down upon those who traverse the space they guard. As you cross this pylon, it takes you into an open court, of about 100m by 80m, built during the 22nd Dynasty, and containing rows of bud papyrus columns.