Karnark, near Luxor, Egypt. New Kingdom, 18th and 19th Dynasties. Temple: c. 1550 B.C.E.; hall: c. 1250 B.C.E. Cut sandstone and mud brick.
The Hypostyle Hall is also the largest and most elaborately decorated of all such buildings in Egypt and the patchwork of artistic styles and different royal names seen in these inscriptions and relief sculptures reflect the different stages at which they were carved over the centuries. As the temple of Amun-re is the largest religious complex in the world.
Form:
- Made of cut sandstone and mud brick
- Axis designed and created on the four
cardinal direction points
- Had both a north/south and an east/west axes
- "Hypostyle"=columns supporting a ceiling
- Made great usage of these columns, hence
the name
- One of the largest temple constructions in the world
- Includes several unique forms of architecture such as a sphinx and the
tallest obelisk in Egypt
Content:
- The Pharaohs continued to add to it over time
- Clerestory lighting, meaning it was natural
and coming from openings above
- Creates a sort of heavenly, godly
feeling
- Existed in Karnak, near Luxor, Egypt
- Architecture such as the obelisk and sphinx make it uniquely Egyptian
Themes:
- Power and authority
- Religion, spirituality
- Legend/mythology
- God, the role of god in society
- Architectural renderings and influence
- Nature and the environment
Function:
- The principal religious center of the god Amun-Re
- Also honors several other Egyptian gods and goddesses
- Especially present were the gods Mut and Montu
- Known as "The Most Select of Places"
- There was a community of religious peoples and elites that lived there
- Has a rich economic, political, and social history as well
- Served for some time as a small city in a sense, epicenter of life
Context:
- Built and heavily used during the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, especially the 18th and 19th dynasties.
- Temple was built around 1550 BCE
- Hall was built around 1250 BCE
- Certain areas were very restrictive and only able to be accessed by the elite
individuals and Pharaohs
- Currently in a poor state due to a lack of preservation
- Still able to show us a lot about the architecture, religion, and life of
Ancient Egypt
Cross-Cultural Connections:
- White Temple and its ziggurat
- These two religious sites have several things in common. First, they are
somewhat similar in form. Both were constructed on the cardinal directions
and are built vertically to be close to the heavens. Both are also built for
the elites of society to honor certain deities, and are very large in size.
- Forbidden City
- Both of these sites use a lot of architecture that is unique to that specific
time period and location. For example, the Forbidden City includes lots of
dragon carvings, courtyards, and gardens. This, however, uses obelisks, a
sphinx, and lighting from above.
Sources:
- Khan Academy
- http://wayback.archive-
it.org/7877/20160919152116/http://dlib.etc.ucla.edu/projects/Karnak//
