GENERAL VIEW OF THE RUINS OF KARNAK, FROM 
THE WEST. 
This view, which embraces the whole range and extent of these stupendous ruins, is 
taken, looking towards the east at sunrise, from the summit of a small temple that 
is situated near it. 
On the extreme left, towering over every other object, rises the great propylon, to 
which an approach from the Nile was made. At nearly right angles, lay another 
approach, through an avenue of sphinxes, supposed to have extended from Luxor; 
of this avenue traces are here seen. Between the great propylon and the grand hall 
lay the outer court, having covered corridors on either side, supported by columns; 
and up the centre, by which the great hall was approached, there were originally 
twelve isolated and enormous columns: each of these bore an allegorical attribute of 
Amunre, the Theban Jupiter. These columns were twelve feet in diameter, and placed 
in two rows; but one only of the columns is now erect, the others lie in ruins. Beyond 
this court, through a second propylon and a magnificent though ruined gateway, lies 
the entrance to the grand Hall of Columns—a structure which, in extent and vastness, 
has no parallel in the world. This hall terminates in another propylon, beyond which, 
in a small court, are two obelisks; one only is still standing. Another pylon succeeds; 
and in the next court, which is peristyle, is the celebrated obelisk, which was dedicated 
to Amunre by Amunneitgori, in honour of Thothmes I.; it is ninety-two feet high, 
and eight feet square, in one block of red granite. Its companion lies overthrown 
and broken. To this court two dilapidated propyla, and a smaller area, succeed; 
and the granite gateway of another propylon forms the entrance to the court of 
the sanctuary, which also is built of red granite, and divided into two apartments, 
and surrounded by numerous small chambers exquisitely wrought. This, which is 
the oldest part of the Temple, is of the time of Osirtesen I., the Pharaoh of Joseph. 
Farther on appears an extensive columnar edifice, erected by Thothmes III., and a 
series of smaller halls and chambers terminates the extremity of the Temple; in these 
are found the names of the predecessors of Thothmes III. Still beyond, on the 
extreme right, rises an enormous gate, one of the grand entrances in the brick wall 
by which the whole of this sacred edifice was surrounded. In this direction, the bright 
surface of a tank, or small lake, appears: such reservoirs were always adjuncts to 
their temples. On the right, below the observer, are seen the ruins of three propyla, 
through which another of the twelve approaches to the Temple lay. Colossal statues 
were placed before each of these, but they are now broken and destroyed; and these 
ruined propyla were, during Mr. Roberts’s stay, being taken down, to build with the 
materials a manufactory of saltpetre, with which the whole ground around Karnak 
is impregnated. We must regret such further destruction; but the original builders 
of this great Temple evidently obtained many of their materials from previous structures— 
a proof that the Thebans were as unscrupulous in their day in destroying the temples 
of their forefathers. 
There is one point of striking interest in this view. Between the solitary column 
