{kahr'-nak}
Karnak, a village on the Nile at the northern extremity of Luxor, is the site of the greatest assembly of ancient temples in Egypt. They are spread over about 48 ha (120 acres) and range in date over about 2,000 years. By far the largest and most important is the temple of Amun (Amon-Re). In origin, it probably dates back to the Old Kingdom (c.2686-2181 BC), but the earliest surviving building is a pavilion of Sesostris I (c.1971-1928 BC). Amun, called king of the gods, was the state god in the New Kingdom (c.1570-1085 BC). During this period kings with such famous names as Amenhotep, Thutmose, Seti, and Ramses conducted campaigns in Western Asia and Nubia, bringing back vast quantities of booty, some of which paid for building the Amun temple and made its priesthood the richest religious organization in the land. Architecturally, the temple's most impressive element is the colossal Hypostyle Hall of Seti I (c.1318-1304 BC). Its walls are decorated with scenes carved in relief and hieroglyphic inscriptions that primarily depict religious ceremonies or record historical events, such as conquests.