After
the peristyle courtyard comes the processional
colonnade built by Amenhotep III –
a 100-metre corridor lined by 14 papyrus-capital
columns. Friezes on the wall describe
the stages in the Opet Festival, from
sacrifices at Karnak at the top left,
through Ammon's arrival at Luxor at the
end of that wall, and concluding with
his return on the opposite side. The decorations
were put in place by Tutankhamun: the
boy pharaoh is depicted, but his names
have been replaced with those of Horemheb.
Beyond the colonnade is a peristyle courtyard,
which also dates back to Amenhotep's original
construction. The best preserved columns
are on the eastern side, where some traces
of original colour can be seen. The southern
side of this courtyard is made up of a
32-column hypostyle court that leads into
the inner sanctums of the temple.
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