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Pylons 4, 5 and 6

Precinct of Amun Ra - Karnak Temple - Theban Temples

Ipet Sut, “Most Select of Places”

The Precinct of Amun Ra

4th Pylon

 

Moving forward you reach the 4th Pylon, constructed by Pharaoh Tuthmose I, this was the original gateway entrance to the Precinct of Amun Ra at Karnak. This remained the entrance for over 100 years at the start of the New Kingdom Period.

This led into the original Hypostyle Hall, otherwise known to the Ancient Egyptians as the Wadjet due to the stylisation of the Papyrus Columns which held in Court’s Roof up. The Ancient Egyptian word for Papyrus was Wadj. Egyptologists have learnt from the Reliefs found in the Wadjet Hall that it was used as a Heb Sed Festival and a Coronation Hall until the Hypostyle Hall was constructed by Pharaoh Seti I. To learn about the Pharaoh’s Jubilee Festival, known to the Egyptians as the Heb Sed Festival, click here.

The Hall is 75 meters wide and 14 meters deep, conceived by Pharaoh Tuthmose I, who placed painted seated Osiride Statues inside Niches in the Walls while taller painted Osiride Statues were placed in between the Niches. These statues at their height would have been 3.15 meters tall.

On one side the Statues wore the Double Crown of Egypt whilst on the other side the Statues wore the White Crown named the Hedjet. To learn more about the Crowns of Egypt and why they were different, click here. The statues were then covered with a roof which was held up by Sandstone Columns, this is referred to as a Peristyle Walkway.

Pharaoh’s daughter, Pharaoh Hatshepsut was the one who added the gilded wood Wadj Columns and a wooden ceiling, removing the Sandstone Columns and its roof, and thus renaming the Hall. In the centre is where her Obelisks were placed. To visit Pharaoh’s Hatshepsut’s Obelisks, please click here.

A new Pharaoh meant yet another change to the Hall with the gilded wood Wadj Columns being reproduced and replaced in Stone by Pharaoh Tuthmose III. He also added a stone lining which covered over his grandfather’s Niche’s and Statues within them, although the exterior Osiride Statues were left uncovered.

5th Pylon

Also built by Pharaoh Tuthmose I.
It was originally constructed to enclose the now named Wadjet Court.

 

6th Pylon

This Pylon was commissioned by Pharaoh Tuthmose III who was also working to remodel his grandfather’s Wadjet Court in front of this new Pylon.

The Reliefs on the Pylon show images of the Deity Amun Ra which were subsequently removed by Pharaoh Akhenaten’s Aten Followers only to be replaced by Pharaoh Tutankhamun and then reappropriated by his second successor Pharaoh Horemheb.

Beyond the 6th Pylon was the “Hall of Records”. This is where Pharaoh recorded about his victories and received his tributes from other nations.

My Plan of Karnak Temple

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