Editing Karnak (section)

==Overview==
The complex is a vast open site and includes the [[Karnak Open Air Museum]]. It is believed to be the second-most-visited {{citation needed|date=August 2016}} historical site in Egypt; only the [[Giza pyramid complex]] near Cairo receives more visits. It consists of four main parts, of which only the largest is currently open to the public. The term Karnak often is understood as being the [[Precinct of Amun-Re]] only, because this is the only part most visitors see. The three other parts, the [[Precinct of Mut]], the [[Precinct of Montu]], and the dismantled [[Temple of Amenhotep&nbsp;IV]], are closed to the public. There also are a few smaller temples and sanctuaries connecting the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Amun-Re, and the [[Luxor Temple]]. The Precinct of Mut is very ancient, being dedicated to an Earth and creation deity, but not yet restored. The original temple was destroyed and partially restored by [[Hatshepsut]], although another pharaoh built around it in order to change the focus or orientation of the sacred area. Many portions of it may have been carried away for use in other buildings.

The key difference between Karnak and most of the other temples and sites in Egypt is the length of time over which it was developed and used. Construction of temples started in the Middle Kingdom and continued into Ptolemaic times. Approximately thirty pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity, and diversity not seen elsewhere. Few of the individual features of Karnak are unique, but the size and number of features are vast. The deities represented range from some of the earliest worshipped to those worshipped much later in the history of the Ancient Egyptian culture. Although destroyed, it also contained an early temple built by Amenhotep IV ([[Akhenaten]]), the pharaoh who later would celebrate a nearly monotheistic religion he established that prompted him to move his court and religious center away from Thebes. It also contains evidence of adaptations, where the buildings of the ancient Egyptians were used by later cultures for their own religious purposes, such as Coptic churches.

===Hypostyle Hall===
{{Main|Great Hypostyle Hall}}
[[File:Temple de Louxor 53.jpg|thumb|Open papyrus umbel capitals and architrave on the central columns of the Hypostyle Hall]]
The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Precinct of Amun-Re has an area of {{cvt|50000|sqft|m2|-3}} with 134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows. One hundred and twenty-two of these columns are {{convert|10|m|ft}} tall, and the other 12 are {{convert|21|m|ft}} tall with a diameter of over {{convert|3|m|ft}}. The [[architrave]]s, on top of these columns, are estimated to weigh 70 tons.

These architraves may have been lifted to these heights using [[lever]]s. This would be a time-consuming process and also would require great balance to get to such heights. A common alternative theory regarding how they were moved is that large ramps were constructed of sand, mud, brick or stone and that the stones were then towed up the ramps. If stone had been used for the ramps, they would have been able to use much less material. The top of the ramps presumably would have employed either wooden tracks or cobblestones for towing the megaliths.

There is an unfinished pillar in an out-of-the-way location that indicates how it would have been finished. Final carving was executed after the drums were put in place so that it was not damaged while being placed.<ref>Egypt: Engineering an empire engineering feats</ref><ref>Lehner, Mark The Complete Pyramids, London: Thames and Hudson (1997) pp.202–225 {{ISBN|0-500-05084-8}}.</ref> Several experiments moving megaliths with ancient technology were made at other locations&nbsp;– some of which are amongst the [[List of largest monoliths|largest monoliths]] in the world.

The sun god's shrine was built so that it has light focused upon it during the [[winter solstice]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 December 2015 |title=Everything You Need to Know About the Winter Solstice |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/151221-winter-solstice-explained-pagans |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224013459/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/151221-winter-solstice-explained-pagans |archive-date=24 February 2021 |access-date=22 December 2022 |website=National Geographic |language=English }}</ref>

In 2009, [[UCLA]] launched a website dedicated to virtual reality digital reconstructions of the Karnak complex and other resources.<ref>"Ancient Egypt Brought To Life With Virtual Model Of Historic Temple Complex", Science Daily, 30 April 2009, retrieved 12 June 2009 [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090429172224.htm]</ref>