Bas-relief on wall of the Royal Pavilion, Thebes, photographed by Maison Bonfils, circa 1867-1885. The Temple of Khonsu located within the large Precinct of Amun-Re at Karnak is an example of an almost complete New Kingdom temple, and was originally const
Bas-relief on wall of the Royal Pavilion, Thebes, photographed by Maison Bonfils, circa 1867-1885. The Temple of Khonsu located within the large Precinct of Amun-Re at Karnak is an example of an almost complete New Kingdom temple, and was originally constructed by Ramesses III, on the site of an earlier temple. In Ptolemaic times, Ptolemy III Euergetes constructed a great gateway and enclosure wall for the temple, only the gateway now remains. The Karnak Temple Complex comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings. Building at the complex began during the reign of Senusret I in the Middle Kingdom and continued into the Ptolemaic period, although most of the extant buildings date from the New Kingdom. The area around Karnak was the ancient Egyptian Ipet-isut (The Most Selected of Places) and the main place of worship of the eighteenth dynasty Theban Triad with the god Amun as its head. It is part of the monumental city of Thebes. The complex is a vast open-air museum and the largest ancient religious site in the world. The key difference between Karnak and most of the other temples and sites in Egypt is the length of time over which it was developed and used. Approximately thirty pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity, and diversity not seen elsewhere. The deities represented range from some of the earliest worshiped to those worshiped much later in the history of the Ancient Egyptian culture. Félix Bonfils (March 8, 1831 - 1885) was a French photographer and writer who was active in the Middle East. He moved his family to Beirut in 1867 where they opened a photographic studio called "Maison Bonfils".
Size: 3000px × 4203px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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