The site occupies some 250,000 square meters and contains many structures and monuments. The main temple itself, the Temple of Amun, covers some 61 acres.

Historically, the earliest artifact found in the area of the temple is a small, eight-sided column from the Eleventh Dynasty, which mentions Amun-Re. The ancient name for Karnak, Ipet-Isut (usually translated as 'most select of places') only really refers to the central core structures of the Precinct of Amun-Re, and was in use as early as the 11th Dynasty, again implying the presence of some form of temple before the Middle Kingdom expansion.

circa 360 BCE

The Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, Egypt, is one of the largest and most significant religious sites in the ancient world. It was primarily dedicated to Amun, the chief deity of the New Kingdom, although it also included temples for other gods like Mut and Khonsu. The site's origins trace back to the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055–1650 BCE), but it flourished during the New Kingdom, with each succeeding pharaoh adding monumental structures to the temple. Over time, the complex evolved from a modest site into a vast religious center, with an area that eventually spanned over 200 acres. The importance of Karnak was not just as a place of worship but also as a center for political and state ceremonies, highlighting the god’s central role in reinforcing the divine right of the ruling pharaohs.

The New Kingdom period, especially under pharaohs like Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep III, and Ramses II, marked the height of the Karnak Temple complex's development. Hatshepsut, for example, constructed a massive obelisk, while Thutmose III added pylons and a large courtyard. The most famous structure in the complex, the Great Hypostyle Hall, was built under Ramses II. Its 134 massive columns, some standing over 30 feet tall, represent a monumental achievement in Egyptian architecture. Each pharaoh’s contributions were meant to demonstrate their devotion to Amun and solidify their divine rule, further linking religious practices to the political and military power of the pharaohs. Karnak also featured grand gateways, sanctuaries, and statues, which symbolized the strength of Egypt and its gods.

However, after the decline of the New Kingdom, the Karnak complex entered a period of stagnation. During the Third Intermediate Period and later invasions by the Persians, Greeks, and Romans, the temple suffered neglect. Despite this, Karnak remained an important religious center. Its monumental architecture continued to influence later temples and sacred sites throughout Egypt. Archaeological excavations have revealed vast quantities of inscriptions, reliefs, and sculptures that provide deep insights into the religious, political, and cultural life of ancient Egypt. Today, Karnak is a significant source for understanding Egyptian religion, with the temple’s structures and inscriptions serving as invaluable artifacts that tell the story of Egypt’s ancient glory.

circa 360 BCE

Pylons
There are ten pylons built during the long history of the temple complex by several Pharaohs. first pylon, the facade of the Amun-Re precinct with avenue of the sphinxes leading up to the entrance. Construction of the current pylon began in 30th dynasty, but was never totally completed. There are large numbers of mud bricks piled up against the inside of the 113m wide and 15m thick pylon. It was built by Nectanebo I (380-362 BCE) who also built the huge enclosure wall surrounding Karnak and some scholars believe that an earlier pylon may have stood on this same spot.

circa 660 BCE

Quay Barge Landing
The main temple was entered via this quay now dry and several hundred metres from the Nile. In the middle of the wharf the ramp built by Taharqa.

circa 660 BCE

Kiosk of Taharqa
In order to construct this kiosk, the ram-sphinx corridor was removed and the statues moved to the edges of the open court. Only one column remains in place, bearing inscriptions by Taharqa, Psamtik II and Ptolemy IV Philopator. The remains of this huge kiosk, built by 25th Dynasty pharaoh Taharqa (690-664 BCE) originally consisted of ten twenty-one meter high papyrus columns linked by a low screening wall. Today there is only one great column still standing.

circa 1200 BCE

Barque (boat) shrines of Seti II
These triple barque shrines were built in the time of Seti II, and are dedicated to The Triad of Gods. The left most was dedicated to Mut, centeral was dedicated to Amun and right one was dedicated to Khonsu. The barque (or bark) shrine is located to the north of the forecourt and adjoining the first pylon, is the triple barque shrine of Seti II, with three rooms built to contain the barques of Mut, Amun and Khonsu, the gods of the Theban triad.

circa 1180 BCE

Temple of Ramesses III
The Temple of Rameses III is located on the south side of the forecourt, the inscriptions inside the temple show the king slaughtering captives, whilst Amun-Re looks on. The shrine’s entrance was fronted by a small pylon adorned with scenes of the king smiting his enemies and two six meter statues carved from red sandstone flanked the door way. Inside, the first court is lined with Osride statues of the king; the west side wear the red crown of the south, while those on the east side wear the white crown of the north.

circa 1180 BCE

Bubastite Portal
The Bubastite Portal is located between the temple of Ramesses III and the second pylon. It records the conquests and military campaigns in c. 925 BCE of Shoshenq I (identified with the biblical Shishaq), of the Twenty-second Dynasty. This gate was erected by the kings of the Twenty-second Dynasty of Egypt, also known as the "Bubastite Dynasty". It is located to the south-east side of the Temple of Ramesses III.

circa 1260 BCE

Great Hypostyle Hall
The Great hypostyle hall was begun by Seti I, and completed by Ramesses II. The outer walls depict scenes of battle, Seti I on the north and Ramesses II on the south. Adjoining the southern wall of Ramesses II is another wall that contains the text of the peace treaty he signed with the Hittites. The hall covers an area of 50,000 sq ft (5,000 sq meters) and filled with 134 gigantic stone columns with 12 larger columns standing 80 feet (24 m) high lining the central aisle.

circa 1386 BCE

Scarab of Amenhotep III
It is located in the northern eastern corner of the sacred lake of king Thotmoses III. This red granite scarab sculpted atop a small pillar is the largest known scarab sculpture. It was found in the funerary temple of Amenhotep III.

circa 1400 BCE

First Court
Also known as the cachette court, over 900 statues were discovered in 1903 by Georges Legrain buried under this open court. These had been buried there, probably in the Ptolemaic period, during one of the clearances of the complex for rebuilding or construction.

circa 1400 BCE

Sacred Lake
The Sacred Lake, was where priests purified themselves before performing rituals in the temple. The sound and light show is now viewed from a seating area next to the lake. Karnak Temple Sacred Lake is the largest of its kind and was dug by Tuthmosis III (1473-1458 BCE). It measures 393 feet (120m) by 252 feet (77m) and is lined with stone wall and has stairways descending into the water. It was surrounded by storerooms and living quarters for the priests. There was also an aviary for aquatic birds.

circa 950 BCE

Central Barque Shrine
Central barque shrine

circa 1460 BCE

Karnak Open Air Museum
The Karnak Open Air Museum, located in southwest is an open-air assembling area containing reconstructed barque-shrines and millions of stone fragments, from small to huge, laid out in long rows, awaiting reassembly into their respective monuments.

circa 1460 BCE

Akhmenu Temple
Also known as the Festival Hall of Thutmose III (Akhmenu Temple), located at the heart of the Precinct of Amun-Re, in the Karnak Temple Complex. The edifice is normally translated as "the most glorious of monuments". The Festival Hall of Thutmose III is situated at the end of the Middle Kingdom court, with its axis at right-angles to the main east–west axis of the temple. It was originally built to celebrate the jubilee (Heb-Sed) of the 18th dynasty Pharaoh, Thutmose III, and later became used as part of the annual Opet Festival.

circa 1460 BCE

Ptah Temple
Temple of Ptah lies to the north of the main Amun temple, just within the boundary wall. The building was erected by the Pharaoh Thutmose III on the site of an earlier Middle Kingdom temple. This temple is dedicated to the ancient Egyptian god Ptah, his wife Sekhmet the goddess of war, and his son Nefertum.