11th January 2014
Mut Temple Precinct Opening – Karnak
Mut Temple Precinct Opening – Karnak
I was very fortunate to have the Governor of Luxor arrange for me to be present at the opening of several sites today including the Mut Temple Precinct.
My sincere thanks to Tarek Saadin, His Excellency The Governor of Luxor and Abrahim Soliman, Director of Antiquities for Luxor.
The picture above shows the Temple of Mut in the centre of the Sacred Lake. To the top is Ramses III Temple and to the bottom is Amenhotep III Temple. The avenue leading towards the right is to Karnak's tenth pylon & the Sacred Lake. The Avenue to the top is the Avenue of Sphinx towards Luxor. Between the two avenues is the Amon Temple.
Goddess Mut was the wife of Amun and mother of Khonsu (the Moon God)
The Precinct of Mut is one of four areas of the Karnak temple site and occupies 150,000 square metres. It was originally know as Isheru or Asher. Isheru was the name of the spring that fed the Sacred Lake. It originates from the 18th Dynasty and goes through to the Graeco Roman period. Records have the temple dating from Middle Kingdom (2040-1650 BCE) and were in use until the Roman Emperor Tiberius (14-37 CE).
Hundreds of statues are throughout the site and a great number were found in the Sacred Lake. More Sekhmet statues were found here than any other site in Luxor. There are scenes inside the temple that date from King Taharqa (690-664 BCE)
The site is indeed very large with many statues; most are in their original standing up positions. It was great to see it ready for the public.
I am informed that the temple is open and that the general entrance ticket for Karnak Temple also covers the entrance for the Mut Temple Precicint.