Massive papyrus columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall at the temple of Amon, Karnak, Egypt

"The second pylon opens into the Great Hypostyle Hall, the most impressive part of the whole Karnak complex. A veritable forest in stone, the hall was filled with 134 papyrus columns, the centre 12 being larger (some being 21 m or 69 ft tall) and with open capitals, the remaining 122 along the sides smaller (some 15 m or 49 ft tall), with closed capitals. In ancient times the spaces between the columns thronged with statues of gods and kings. Although the hall was initiated by Amenophis (Amenhotep) III, the decoration was begun by Sethos (Seti) I and completed by Ramesses (Ramses) II." [Wilkinson R., 2000: The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt. Thames and Hudson]. "A village on East bank of the Nile in Upper Egypt; with Luxor, Karnak is on the site of ancient Thebes; location of temple of Amen, considered one of the finest examples of early New Kingdom religious architecture; also has many Middle Kingdom remains." [The J.P.Getty Fund: Thesaurus of Geographic Names]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for American Institute of Architects, directing the Egyptian portion of the documentary on Ancient Egypt, March 1965 and September 1965.