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The
Temple of Amun, located on the
East Bank, was built by two Pharoahs: Amenhotep
III (1390 - 1352 BC) and Rameses
II (1279 - 1213 BC). The temple was dedicated to Amun,
whose marriage to Mut was celebrated
annually when the sacred procession moved by boat from Karnak
to Luxor Temple. The primary function of the original temple was as a setting
for the Festival of Opet, in which the cult statue of the god Amun was carried
annually along an avenue
of sphinxes leading from the temple of Amun at Karnak to Luxor.
Like
Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple is an accretion of structures erected by succeeding
kings. The principal entrance today is the Pylon of Ramesses II (c.1279-1213
B.C.E.), which is flanked by two seated statues of the king (one is behind the
obelisk) and one standing statue (of an original four). The remaining obelisk of
pink granite is situated in front of the easternmost seated statue. The western
obelisk has stood in the Place de la Concorde in Paris since 1836. The vertical
niches held flag staffs.
The
pylon entranceway is suggestive of the Egyptian hieroglyph which means
"horizon." In the hieroglyph, the circle of the sun is flanked by two
stylized mountain shapes. Most Egyptian temples had an east-west axis so that
the sun would symbolically rise and set between these pylon/mountains. Luxor
Temple, however, along with Dendera has a north-south axis.
The temple of Luxor is mainly build by two kings, Amenophis III and Ramese
II. Ameophis III founded the temple on the site of an older sanctuary and Ramese
II added the impressive pylon with Obelisks, giant figures and a colonnaded
court. |
