For
many people, the glory of Karnak is the vast hypostyle hall. An odd name, but
no doubt factually correct. It is a columned hall, but the columns are like
nothing you've ever seen before - wide tall columns covered with carvings representing
the creation, and the walls surrounding the hall show scenes of battle. It was
started by Ramses I, but the majority of the work was completed by Seti I and
his famous son Ramses II...
One of the best viewpoints
from within the hall, looking at the obelisks of Thutmosis I and Hatshepsut.
The taller of the two was built by Hatshepsut. To get this photograph, I had
to bribe a policeman! I was wandering through the columns, and one of the
tourist police beckoned me over. I thought I had done something wrong, but
he took my arm, and took me to this viewpoint. Well worth £LE 2!
Ramses
II smites his enemies - he's holding the topknots of several people, and if
it had survived, he would have had a club in his other hand.
The
sheer size of the columns dwarfs the tourists. On this side of the wall are
carvings of the pharoah making offerings to the gods. Originally, this hall
was roofed, so it would be dark and extremely mysterious.
