Visit Egypt’s Ancient Wonders on a Two-Day Tour of Luxor with Windstar Cruises

Located on the east side of the Nile River, the Karnak Temple Complex, also known simply as Karnak, is a vast, open site comprised of dozens of temples, chapels, pylons and obelisks. Construction started during the Middle Kingdom period (2000 to 1700 BCE), and continued into the Ptolemaic Kingdom, from 305 to 30 BCE, though it was the principal worship site of the god Amun-Re during the New Kingdom, which lasted from 1550 to 1070 BCE. The Great Hypostyle Hall, which is perhaps the most famous monument in the complex, features 134 massive sandstone pillars with intricate carvings covering nearly 20,000 square feet. Seti I built the northern half of the hall, while his son Ramses II finished the southern portion during his reign, between 1279 and 1212 BCE.