DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44744#0013
between these two pylons was adorned with the granite statues of the ruler. He
also built a Nilometer near the Sacred Lake, and a small chapel for the god Ptah
in the northern part of the enclosure of Amun’s temple. Later several gates and
new reliefs were added.
In contrast to Tuthmosis III, who wanted to reward the priests for his nomination
to the throne of Egypt by embellishing the temple of Amun, his successors, Amen-
hotep II and Tuthmosis IV, built little at Karnak. Amenhotep erected a small temple,
which later, after the construction of the Ninth and Tenth Pylons by Horemheb,
lay on the eastern side of the new courtyard. However, in the main part of the
temple of Amun, he left few traces of architectural activity. There is no evidence
to support the theory that the architectural fragments found between the Fourth
and Fifth Pylons come from Amenhotep’s chapel. Amenhotep II and Tuthmosis IV
both erected small alabaster shrines, and a few blocks have been found in the core
of the Third Pylon, whilst Tuthmosis IV also constructed fortified bastions on the
western side near the Fourth Pylon.
Amenhotep III was principally responsible for the embellishment of Karnak. Traces
of his activities are evident in many places. In the sacred enclosure of the goddess
Mut to the south of the Temple of Amun are the ruins of a temple, orientated
north-south, which Amenhotep III reconstructed on the site of an earlier edifice.
A separate sacred lake in the shape of a crescent existed to the south of the temple.
About 600 statues, over 2 m. high, of the enthroned goddess Sakhmet, were to be
found on the site of the temple — mainly in the courtyard. Many of these statues
are now dispersed in museums the world over; one is in the National Museum in
Warsaw. All the statues most probably date from the time of Amenhotep III (al-
though some were usurped by later rulers who carved their names on them), but
we still do not know what caused that ruler to endow the sanctuary of the goddess
Mut so generously with granite and diorite statues which represented her.
Near the Sacred Lake of the Temple of Amun, Amenhotep III placed a colossal
granite scarab dedicated to the god Atum-Khepri. He also made important alter-
ations to the Great Temple of Amun. Hundreds of blocks, drawn from older con-
structions within the sacred enclosure, have been found to a great extent within
the Third Pylon erected by him. It is possible that the central colonnade of the
great Hypostyle Hall of the Temple of Amun, consisting of twelve columns with
open flower-bud capitals (of a potential fourteen columns — two on the eastern
side, in place of the Second Pylon), was constructed during the reign of Amen-
hotep III as an avenue leading to the new temple entrance. To the north of the
temple of Amun, in the enclosure of the god Montu, the same ruler erected the
main temple dedicated to this latter god.
Further evidence of the architectural activities of Amenhotep III is provided by
the famous temple of Khons. It is generally believed that its construction was begun
by Ramesses III and that his successors provided the reliefs and made some alterat-
ions. However, the Soviet archaeologist, Madame Mathieu, put forward a theory
in 1947 that in view of the general layout of the construction, it must have already
originated in the reign of Amenhotep III. Even if we do not take into consideration
10
also built a Nilometer near the Sacred Lake, and a small chapel for the god Ptah
in the northern part of the enclosure of Amun’s temple. Later several gates and
new reliefs were added.
In contrast to Tuthmosis III, who wanted to reward the priests for his nomination
to the throne of Egypt by embellishing the temple of Amun, his successors, Amen-
hotep II and Tuthmosis IV, built little at Karnak. Amenhotep erected a small temple,
which later, after the construction of the Ninth and Tenth Pylons by Horemheb,
lay on the eastern side of the new courtyard. However, in the main part of the
temple of Amun, he left few traces of architectural activity. There is no evidence
to support the theory that the architectural fragments found between the Fourth
and Fifth Pylons come from Amenhotep’s chapel. Amenhotep II and Tuthmosis IV
both erected small alabaster shrines, and a few blocks have been found in the core
of the Third Pylon, whilst Tuthmosis IV also constructed fortified bastions on the
western side near the Fourth Pylon.
Amenhotep III was principally responsible for the embellishment of Karnak. Traces
of his activities are evident in many places. In the sacred enclosure of the goddess
Mut to the south of the Temple of Amun are the ruins of a temple, orientated
north-south, which Amenhotep III reconstructed on the site of an earlier edifice.
A separate sacred lake in the shape of a crescent existed to the south of the temple.
About 600 statues, over 2 m. high, of the enthroned goddess Sakhmet, were to be
found on the site of the temple — mainly in the courtyard. Many of these statues
are now dispersed in museums the world over; one is in the National Museum in
Warsaw. All the statues most probably date from the time of Amenhotep III (al-
though some were usurped by later rulers who carved their names on them), but
we still do not know what caused that ruler to endow the sanctuary of the goddess
Mut so generously with granite and diorite statues which represented her.
Near the Sacred Lake of the Temple of Amun, Amenhotep III placed a colossal
granite scarab dedicated to the god Atum-Khepri. He also made important alter-
ations to the Great Temple of Amun. Hundreds of blocks, drawn from older con-
structions within the sacred enclosure, have been found to a great extent within
the Third Pylon erected by him. It is possible that the central colonnade of the
great Hypostyle Hall of the Temple of Amun, consisting of twelve columns with
open flower-bud capitals (of a potential fourteen columns — two on the eastern
side, in place of the Second Pylon), was constructed during the reign of Amen-
hotep III as an avenue leading to the new temple entrance. To the north of the
temple of Amun, in the enclosure of the god Montu, the same ruler erected the
main temple dedicated to this latter god.
Further evidence of the architectural activities of Amenhotep III is provided by
the famous temple of Khons. It is generally believed that its construction was begun
by Ramesses III and that his successors provided the reliefs and made some alterat-
ions. However, the Soviet archaeologist, Madame Mathieu, put forward a theory
in 1947 that in view of the general layout of the construction, it must have already
originated in the reign of Amenhotep III. Even if we do not take into consideration
10