The Great Hypostyle Hall in Luxor's iconic Karnak Temple has undergone restoration, with about 95% of its columns being restored to their original state.
The restoration work was carried out by young restorers from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), in collaboration with graduates from Luxor and South Valley universities, as well as the Luxor Restoration Institute. Mostafa Waziry, secretary-general of the SCA, affirmed that the restoration work adhered to international conservation standards and protocols.
The young restorers were able to clean the columns' surfaces, removing accumulated sand, dust, and bird deposits that had hidden the original engravings and colors for ages. This restoration work brings back the original engravings and colors of ancient Egyptian inscriptions.
Waziry pointed out that visitors to the Karnak's Hypostyle Hall will be able to admire its original scenery for the first time. The first phase of the project started in July 2021, with the restoration of 28 columns out of the 134 columns of the hall, each of which is 20 meters in height. The second phase started immediately after the completion of the first phase, and the hall is to be inaugurated soon.
The Karnak Temple complex was the largest and most important religious complex in ancient Egypt, and its development continued for over 1000 years.
The temple of Amun-Ra, located in the south of Upper Egypt on the east bank of the city of Luxor, displays several temples, obelisks, and shrines built throughout the Middle and New Kingdoms. The vast Hypostyle Hall constructed during the reign of King Seti I is particularly famous, although parts of the complex were altered by Ptolemaic rulers and Copts for their use.
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