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The halls of Luxor Temple
There are 3 main courts
or colonnades before the temple proper.
The first court you arrive in is the one of
Ramses 2, the pharaoh who has built or usurped
most monuments of ancient Egypt. Even if much
remains it is still quite damaged. The most
dramatic alteration of its shape has been by the
construction of the mosque of Abu l-Haggag
in one of the corners. But even Ramses'
court messed with former religious constructions,
as the barque shrines of Tuthmosis 3 were
integrated. As these shrines were already put into
the axis of the temple, Ramses ordered that
his court should be bent from the axis, so that
the shrines were hidden behind the right pylon.
The court of Ramses 2 leads into the
Processional Colonnade of Amenophis 3. The
decorations on the walls were added by Tutankhamun
and Horemheb.
The court of Amenophis 3 is surrounded on 3 sides
by columns shaped as papyrus bundles and with
capitals formed as buds. The court was dedicated
to Amun, who Amenophis claimed to be his father.
The court was originally roofed, but nothing
remains of this. But most of the columns are in
excellent condition. Due to the rising water
table, a great restoration program was
accomplished to strenghten the foundations.
Almost as if it was a part of the Court of
Amenophis 3, the Hypostyle Hall is the last
stage before the holiest parts of the temple. It
is made up of 32 papyrus columns. Contrary to all
good custom, the pharaohs Ramses 4 and 7
took the ownership of the columns and added their
cartouches.
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