Study Guide:  New Kingdom Temples
Concepts/People/Terms

Karnak Temple (basics -- not the whole layout, etc.!!!!)
Luxor Temple (basics -- not the whole layout, etc.!!!!)
Amun
Mut
Khonsu
Sekhmet
Opet Festival

I will be defining some of these more in class.



 
Study tips & discussion questions:

Scholars usually distinguish between two kinds of large NK temples:
•    Divine temples:  like Luxor or Karnak, temples that are dedicated to a specific god or gods

•    Mortuary temples:  temples to which offerings are given to the pharaoh as a god (usually understood as after his death, but Haeny has a different take)

1)  Grimal pp. 261-267 describes the function or purpose of large monumental temples devoted to particular Egyptian gods.  The so-called "Divine Temples."  What is their purpose?  How does the architecture of the temple fulfill this purpose?  Go to the websites and look at the pictures of the the Luxor and Karnak temples.  What emotions or sensations do these places evoke for you?  Are your reactions the same reactions that the pharaoh and architects wanted to inspire (according to Grimal's description of the purpose of the temples)?

There is a plan of the temple in Mieroop, also, for your reference!








2) Haeny article:
Remember that "mortuary temples" were the temples where the pharaoh's funerary cult was supposed to be performed for eternity.  (There were mortuary temples outside the pyramids of Giza, remember.)  Haeny examines whether we can distinguish between "divine" and "mortuary" temples in the New Kingdom.  He examines temples that are called by the Egyptians "mansions of millions of years."  What was the purpose of these "mansions of millions of years?"







Visit the websites of the temples.  Is there a major difference in the structure, decorative motifs, and layout of divine and mortuary temples?