Entrance to the hypostyle sun court of Amenhotep III, Luxor, Egypt

"First, visitors pass through a portico, the so-called hypostyle. In its eastern and western walls are subsidiary doorways. Opening off the back, or southern end, of the portico were individual barque shrines for the Theban triad. Next, walking straight along the axial way, visitors enter a once columned hall. the Chamber of the Divine King. Off this room open two small peripheral chapels, now in ruinous condition." [Lanny Bell, 1997: The New Kingdom 'Divine' Temple: The Example of Luxor. Temples of Ancient Egypt. Cornell University Press]. "With the village of Karnak, Luxor (Al Uqsur) is on the site of ancient Thebes (capital of the New Kingdom). When Thebes declined, Luxor remained the more heavily populated part of the ancient city and grew into a modern market town." [The J.P.Getty Fund: Thesaurus of Geographic Names]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from January 8, 1947 to end of June 1947.