Luxor - Temple of Luxor - Colonnade

Adjoining the Great Court of Ramesses II on the south is the Colonnade, which is well preserved and makes a major contribution to the imposing effect of the ruins. Seven papyrus columns with open capitals, almost 52ft/16m high, still support heavy architraves borne on high abaci. They were erected by Amenophis III, but also bear the names of Tutankhamun, Horemheb, Sethos I, Ramesses lI and Sethos II. The fine reliefs on the walls the upper part of which is destroyed at some points date from the time of Tutankhamun, whose name was later replaced by that of his successor Horemheb. They depict in vivid detail the great Opet (New Year) festival, when the sacred barques of the gods were taken out of the Temple of Karnak, sailed up the Nile to Luxor, where they were borne into the temple, and then returned to Karnak in the evening. The scenes, full of fascinating details, begin at the northwest corner and end at the northeast corner.