C.G. Fountaine
1862
The Great Pylon, Karnak, Upper Egypt
[Photographic views taken in Egypt and Greece by C. G. Fontaine]

Albumen print
31.4 x 40.9 cm (image)
 
The Royal Collection
RCIN 2081573
 
View of the portal of Ptolomey III Euergetes (246-221 BC) in front of the first pylon of the temple of the moon-god Khonsu at Karnak with, visible in the foreground, some of the sphinxes forming one of the avenues to the precinct of Amun-Re, the main temple enclosure of the large Karnak temple complex. Karnak, near modern Luxor, is a large complex of religious buildings covering an area of over one hundred hectares. It consists of three major sacred precincts dedicated to Amun-Re (the largest of the three), Mut and Montu, but it also includes other structures built both inside and outside the various precincts. It was built and continually extended and embellished by Egyptian rulers from at least the Middle Kingdom (2055-1650 BC) until the Roman period (30 BC-AD 395) but most of its surviving structures date from the second half of the second millenium BC, resulting in Karnak being the largest and best-preserved temple complex of the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC).
 
Acquired by King Edward VII when Prince of Wales
 
LL/93238