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LUXOR, EGYPT - OCT. 4: The Karnak Temple in the southern Egyptian city of Luxor, with a history stretching back 4,000 years, remains one of the most important religious sites of ancient Egyptian civilization.Located on the east bank of the Nile River and dedicated to the god Amun-Ra, the vast temple complex showcases the architectural and artistic grandeur of ancient Egypt through its towering columns, statues, and intricate carvings.Construction began during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom around 2000 B.C. and continued for nearly two millennia as successive pharaohs expanded and adorned the site.Among its most striking features is the Great Hypostyle Hall, containing 134 columns — some reaching 21 meters high — engraved with hieroglyphs that offer insight into ancient religious rituals.Second only to the Pyramids of Giza in visitor numbers, the Karnak Temple today serves as an open-air museum, drawing tourists from around the world. (Footage by Ahmed Sayed /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)