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Amon church in Karnak
When Pharaoh Ramesse II. was abandoned by his soldiers and besieged with enemies - Chetits, he was thankful - according to the legend for his rescue - to a fact that his voice had to be heard many kilometres distant in south direction in his capital Theby (Weset), where God Amon heard him. So, Ramesse II. constructed the churches in holy area of Karnak on right bank of Nile-river in Upper Egypt on his honour (in similar way as did it several Pharaohs before and afterthat). So, within two thousand years, there were effected buildings, demolitions and again buildings and enlargements. From Nile-river, there leads wide holy way, bordered with Sphings (having ram heads) towards the first of six gates and columns (towering constructions) you have to pass through, in order to reach most holy part of Amon Church – to naos sanctuary, where there was originally placed holy vessel of God Amon.
From very remote past – the period of 12th dynasty, (1991-1786 B.C.) the archaeologists managed to reconstruct a small church, consacrated by King Sesostris I. to God Amon, forming part of central sanctuary. The church was made from powerful white sandstone freestones decorated with reliefs. Inside, there lead sloping drives along both sides, where there are hewed in flat stairs (stages). In past, there stood there big statue of monarch on a stand. It is quite interesting fact for archaeologists that there are to be found interesting inscriptions on this base, such as survey of Egyptian regions, towns and their deities. Holy way from Nile-bank to Amon Church is bordered with long line of sphings with ram heads and lion bodies.
First towering construction, named for its dimensions (width 113 metres, height 43 metres, depth 15 metres) „High Karnak Gate“ is an entrance into first church courtyard. Between second and third towering construction, there is to be found Great Column Hall, reaching, at its 52 metres length and 103 meters width, one third of basic surface of St.Peter Cathedral in Rome. There are placed 134 enormous columns in 16 lines in a form of papyrus-bunches along both sides of wide 
central nave, which is rising with 12 higher columns over the hall. The reliefs on columns represent scenes from cult rites and world of Egyptian Gods, presenting in such way about religion life and celebrating the world of Egyptian Gods. This column hall was built according to the order of Ramesse II (19th dynasty, 1290-1224 B.C.). He let to be immortalized in two figures of colossus placed along both sides of hall entrance. 
Between fourth and fifth gate, Pharaoh Hatshepsovet (18th dynasty, 1490-1468 B.C.), let to construct (on base of column hall, created by one of her predecessors), two 31 metres high obelisks, monoliths made from pink sandstone. Its reliefs gave a message about King´s coronation. However, her successor, Thutmose III. (1468-1436 B.C.) let all obelisks to wall up 20 meters height, in order to suppress any memory of the Queen. One of 322 tonnes heavy colossus was preserved until now, and its covering managed to be effected. All church Karnak area was, at the beginning of excavation works (at the end of 19th century) a confusion of walls, columns and obelisks only. Anyway, the archaeological works are not 
finished and discovered, except of main Amon Church, also smaller churches of Muta, Amon´s consort and Chons, his son, and moreover, various agriculture as well as lodging buildings of hierarchic organized clergymen. All this fulfilled not only function of faith watchers, but there had quite big influence in Egypt at that time period. The position of clergymen in Amon Church was extraordinary (exceptional). This sanctuary played most important role in this respect. However, the transfer of capital seat from Theby to Tanis (Dzaanet- in east Nile-delta in north direction from Cairo) caused an end of the important period of Amon Church in Karnak.
Text: Jakub Štantejský and Monumente der Welt
Photo: Google Earth
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