Karnak Temple Complex

More than 247 acres (1 square kilometer) of the ancient Karnak temple precinct are located in Thebes on the eastern bank of the Nile River (known as Luxor today). At the location, construction started more than 4,000 years ago and didn't cease until the Romans besieged Egypt and took control around 2,000 years ago. The length of time it was in use and actively being developed sets Karnak apart from the other temple sites found in Egypt.

There is evidence that at least thirty pharaohs contributed to the site, giving it a vastness, intricacy, and variety that is unmatched. Numerous additional preservation issues have arisen during the past century as a result of local agricultural irrigation, rising water levels, and chemical deterioration. This degradation severely damages the historical record, jeopardizing the integrity of the site and making it more difficult for historians to understand the context and significance of the carvings and hieroglyphs seen on the majority of building facades and other surfaces.

Over the past few decades, numerous ground-breaking methods, such as the use of lime mortar, have been employed to restore many of the temples, pillars, walkways, and statues on the property. The most prominent of these were the ongoing restoration of the 29 ram statues in the first courtyard as well as the restoration of the Luxor Temple and the Precinct of Amun-Re.

• Country: Egypt