First Pylon — Attraction in Old Karnak

The first pylon of Karnak Temple is the monumental gateway that marks the official entrance into the vast precinct of Amun. It is the largest pylon in the entire complex, measuring about 113 meters wide and 43 meters high, though it was never fully completed. Built during the 30th Dynasty, around the reign of Nectanebo I in the 4th century BCE, it represents one of the last major additions to Karnak after more than a thousand years of continuous building. The pylon is constructed of mudbrick and sandstone, and its unfinished surfaces still show traces of the ramps that would have been used to haul blocks into place.

This gateway would have been fronted by colossal statues and obelisks, as well as a massive avenue of sphinxes leading toward the Nile, but much of that decoration has been lost or removed over time. Despite its unfinished state, the first pylon still creates an imposing impression on visitors, dwarfing those who pass through its central doorway into the great court beyond. The scale of the structure reflects the ambition of late-period pharaohs to associate themselves with the grandeur of Karnak, even as Egypt faced political challenges.

Today, the first pylon stands as both a threshold and a reminder of Karnak’s long history, showing how successive generations of rulers sought to leave their mark on the most important religious site in ancient Egypt. It is the beginning of the monumental processional route through the temple, a place where visitors move from the outer world into the sacred...

The First Pylon, known as الصرح الأول in Arabic, is a monumental structure found at the entrance of many ancient Egyptian temples. It serves as the primary gateway to the temple complex and is often adorned with elaborate carvings, reliefs, and statues depicting scenes from mythology, religious rituals, and historical events.

Constructed with massive stone blocks and towering walls, the First Pylon was designed to impress and intimidate visitors, emphasizing the grandeur and divine significance of the temple beyond. It typically consists of a central gateway flanked by two massive towers, creating a dramatic entrance that symbolizes the transition from the mundane world to the sacred realm of the gods.

The First Pylon played a crucial role in the religious and ceremonial life of ancient Egypt. It served as the backdrop for important rituals, processions, and festivals, during which the pharaoh and priests would display their devotion to the gods and assert the authority of the state.

One of the most famous examples of a First Pylon is found at the Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, Egypt. This colossal structure, built by various pharaohs over centuries, features intricate carvings and reliefs celebrating the military victories and divine lineage of the rulers who commissioned it.

Today, the First Pylon stands as a testament to the architectural and artistic achievements of ancient Egypt, drawing visitors from around the world to marvel at its monumental scale and...

Under the XXXth Dynasty, Nectanebo (c. 350 B.C.) began building the First Pylon which closes the western side of the Great Courtyard; this pylon remains unfinished, explaining the presence of mud-brick remnants of the construction ramps.

Horemheb (1333-1306 B.C.) built the Second Pylon, which then became the entrance to the Temple, and in front of which several monuments wore installed.

Around 1200 B.C., Seti If built a triple repository chapel for the sacred barques of the Theban triad, Amun, Mout and Khonsu,

Access to the Temple of Kamak is gained today through what is a fate addition to the Temple: the First Courtyard, built in front of the east-west axis leading to the sanctuary of Amun between the end of the XIVth and the IVth century...