A groundbreaking geoarchaeological study, published in Antiquity, sheds new light on Egypt’s iconic Karnak Temple, revealing how it rose from an island in the Nile’s floodwaters to become one of the ancient world’s most enduring sacred sites.
By examining sediments and pottery fragments, researchers traced the temple’s evolution over 3,000 years. Their findings suggest its location may have been deliberately chosen to reflect the ancient Egyptian creation myth, in which the first land emerged from the primeval waters, blending geography with spiritual symbolism.
Click through the following gallery to see how new research has unraveled 3,000 years of the Karnak Temple’s history, revealing its rise from Nile floods to sacred prominence.