Ancient temple in Luxor opened two tombs of aristocrats to visitors

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Somewhere between 1189 BC and 1077 BC at the Dra-Abul-Naga necropolis at the Khonsu Temple at Karnak, on the west bank of Luxor, two high-ranking men were the focus of an elaborate death ritual. And since the souls of these people made adventures in the afterlife, their tombs were sealed by their followers, so that henceforth, they would never be opened again. But … four ancient Egyptian chapels and two temple tombs have recently opened their "doors" for visitors in the Khonsu (Khonsu) temple in Karnak, Luxor.

Recently, Egyptian archaeologists and antiquities completed the restoration of the tombs of two ancient aristocrats at the Dra Abul Naga necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the West Bank of Luxor. The work was started in 2015 by the American Research Center ARCE in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and funding from the United States Agency for International Development. The project included cataloging finds in tombs that date back to 1549 BC, removing debris from modern buildings that have been destroyed, and introducing new paths for visitors with lighting and signage.

Tombs of the Holy Scribe and High Priest Amun

The massive temple complex of Karnak was the main religious center of the god Amun-Ra in Thebes during the New Kingdom (which lasted from 1550 to 1070 BC). The complex remains one of the largest religious complexes in the world. However, Karnak was not just one temple dedicated to one God Amon-Ra - it contained not only the main possessions of the god Amun, but also the possessions of the gods Mut and Montu. Compared to other temple complexes that have survived since ancient Egypt, Karnak is in a poor state of preservation, but it still provides scholars with a wealth of information about Egyptian religion and art.

According to the depictions on the wall reliefs, the first of the rebuilt tombs belonged to the 19th Dynasty Paradise, who was the fourth prophet of Amun. The priests of Amun constantly worshiped and offered sacrifices to the god Amun, and there were four high-ranking priests in Thebes, led by the chief prophet of Amun at Karnak, otherwise known as the chief priest.

The second tomb, dated to the 20th dynasty, belongs to Niai, who was the scribe of the table. Not everyone in Ancient Egypt knew how to read and write, and the knowledge possessed by scribes was perceived as magical arts. Only scribes were allowed to possess this sacred knowledge that most of us today take for granted.

Collaborative Archeology Promotes Peace in the Middle East

While the priests of Amun, the tomb builders, did everything to ensure that the physical remains of these two people remained intact, and that no one dared to disturb the peace of their souls in the afterlife, despite this mission, a new passage was established for visitors to facilitate access to the once sacred space. This new facility is one of the few to have recently opened in Egypt, as efforts are being made to rebuild the country's tourism industry after a significant downturn following the 2011 revolution that toppled longtime politician Hosni Mubarak.

Most favorite place

The site was first developed during the Middle Kingdom (2055-1650 BC) and was originally modest in scale, but as new significance was given to the city of Thebes, subsequent pharaohs began to place their own sign on Karnak. The main site alone will eventually have as many as twenty temples and chapels. Karnak was known in antiquity as the “most chosen place” (Ipet-isut) and was not only the location of the iconic image of Amun and the dwelling place of God on earth, but also a working estate for the priestly community that lived in the vicinity. Additional buildings included a sacred lake, kitchens, and workshops for the production of religious equipment.

The main temple of Amun-Ra had two axes - one went north / south and the other east / west. The southern axis continued towards the temple of Luxor and was connected by an alley of ram-headed sphinxes. While the sanctuary was plundered for stone in ancient times, there are still a number of unique architectural features in this vast complex. For example, the tallest obelisk in Egypt stood at Karnak and was dedicated to the female Pharaoh Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt during the New Kingdom. Made from a single piece of red granite, it originally had a matching obelisk that was removed by the Roman emperor Constantine and rebuilt in Rome. Another unusual feature was the festive temple of Thutmose III, whose columns were tent poles, a feature that this pharaoh was no doubt familiar with from his many military campaigns.

Interesting fact: an obelisk in ancient Egypt is usually a very tall four-sided stone that tapers upwards and is crowned with a pyramid. Each side is often heavily inscribed with hieroglyphs, and the stone is a solid piece of granite. The obelisk from Karnak (now in Rome) is estimated to weigh over 900,000 pounds.

Hypostyle Hall

One of the greatest architectural wonders of Karnak is the Hypostyle Hall, built during the Ramessid period (the Hypostyle Hall is a space with a roof supported by columns). The hall has one hundred and thirty-four massive sandstone columns with a center of twelve columns. Like most of the temple decorations, the hall was brightly colored, and some of this paint still exists on the tops of the columns and ceiling today. With the center of the hall taller than the spaces on either side, the Egyptians allowed lighting in the basement (the part of the wall that allowed light and air to enter the dark space below). In fact, the earliest evidence of cleric coverage comes from Egypt. Not many ancient Egyptians had access to this hall, since the further they entered the temple, the more limited access became.

Temple like space

Conceptually, temples in Egypt were associated with the idea of Zep Tepi, or "first time," the beginning of the creation of the world. The temple was a reflection of this time when the hill of creation emerged from the primeval waters. The pylons, or gates in the temple, represent the horizon, and as a person moves further into the temple, the floor rises until it reaches the sanctuary of the god, giving the impression of a towering hill, as it did during creation.

The roof of the temple represented the sky and was often decorated with stars and birds. The columns were designed with lotus, papyrus and palm plants to reflect the marsh environment of the creation. The outer areas of Karnak, which was located near the Nile River, were flooded during the annual flood - a deliberate effect of the ancient designers, no doubt in order to enhance the symbolism of the temple.

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