Temple of Karnak
Karnak Temple is effectively a vast open-air museum and the largest ancient religious site in the world, probably the second most visited sight in Egypt after the Giza Pyramids near Cairo. The Temple of Karnak consists of four main precincts across 100 hectares, but only the main one is open to the general public, the Precinct of Amun-Re.
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 work began in the 16th century BC and continued for the next 1,300 years across many successive dynasties.
Around 30 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 overwhelming.
