Aerial view of Karnak temple at Thebes (Luxor) in the 2nd century. The drawing is in landscape format, with an uninscribed cartouche at the bottom edge. Inscriptions appear on the reverse.
The center of the drawing is occupied by the sanctuary of Amun, seen from the north. The sanctuary is enclosed by a brick enclosure, pierced by monumental gates. The main entrance is to the west, in the lower right-hand corner. It is preceded by a sphinx dromos and a tribune placed on the banks of a lake, connected to the Nile by a canal. It opens onto a courtyard occupied by a kiosk. This courtyard leads to a pylon that gives access to the sanctuary to the east, and to a processional alley made up of a succession of courtyards and pylons that lead to the sanctuary.
pylons leading to the domain of Mut, to the south. The enclosure also contains a sacred lake and the priests’ quarters, as well as the temple of Khonsu. To the north lies the domain of Montou, within an enclosure. This is Jean-Claude Golvin’s first watercolour.