What is Karnak?
[[File:Flickr - Michael Cavén - Karnak temple in Luxor.jpg|thumb|right|230px|A small part of the Hypostyle Hall.]] '''Karnak''' is the largest ancient religious site in the world. The complex of temples is near [[Luxor]] on the [[Nile]] in [[Egypt]]. Luxor is some 500 km south of [[Cairo]]. About thirty [[pharaoh]]s contributed to the buildings. The site reached a size, complexity, and diversity not seen elsewhere. The Karnak Temple Complex—usually called Karnak—is a vast group of ruined temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings. The largest and most important are the Great Temple of [[Amun]], and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II (ca. 1391–1351 BC). An ancient sacred lake is part of the site as well. The area around Karnak was the ancient Egyptian Ipet-isut ('The Most Selected of Places'). It was the main place of worship of the eighteenth dynasty, part of the monumental city of [[Thebes]]. == Precinct of Amun-Re == [[File:Temple of amun karnak.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Map of the Amun-Re precinct.]] This is the largest precinct of the temple complex, dedicated to Amun-Re (a form of Amun), the chief deity. There are several colossal statues including the figure of [[Pinedjem&nbsp;I]] which is 10.5 meters tall. The sandstone for this temple, including all the columns, was transported from Gebel Silsila 100 miles south on the Nile river.<ref>Time Life 1993. ''Ramses II: magnificence on the Nile'', pp. 53–54</ref> It also has one of the largest obelisks weighing 328 tonnes and standing 29 meters tall.<ref>Walker, Charles 1980. ''Wonders of the ancient world'', pp24–7</ref><ref>Scarre, Chris 1999. ''The seventy wonders of the ancient world''. London: Thames & Hudson.</ref> === The Great Hypostyle Hall === The Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnak, within the Karnak temple complex, in the Precinct of Amun-Re, is one of the most visited monuments of Ancient Egypt. The hall covers an area of 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m2). The roof, now fallen, was supported by 134 columns in 16 rows; the 2 middle rows are hig