The Ptolemaic Period: The Invasion Of Ancient Egypt
The Ptolemaic period began with the invasion of ancient Egypt by Alexander the Great in 333 bc. Ptolemy (303 to 285 bc) was one of Alexander the Great’s most trusted generals, and he worked on the promotion of a new Hellenized Egypt, centred in Alexandria (Ellis 1994). The
Karnak temple complex is one of the largest monuments in the world, containing approximately
20 minor temples. The temple is located about 2.5 km to the north of Luxor and about
670 km south of Cairo. It is dated from the New Kingdom (the 18th Dynasty, 1540 to 1292 bc) until the late periods in Egypt, although new excavations have indicated an origin in the Old
Kingdom (2575 to 2465 bc). According to Blyth (2006), statues attributed to kings of the
Archaic and Old Kingdom
periods—Khasekhemui (Dynasty II), Khufu (Dynasty IV) and Neuserre
(Dynasty V)—are used to argue for the existence of a form of sanctuary or temple at
Karnak temple complex is one of the largest monuments in the world, containing approximately
20 minor temples. The temple is located about 2.5 km to the north of Luxor and about
670 km south of Cairo. It is dated from the New Kingdom (the 18th Dynasty, 1540 to 1292 bc) until the late periods in Egypt, although new excavations have indicated an origin in the Old
Kingdom (2575 to 2465 bc). According to Blyth (2006), statues attributed to kings of the
Archaic and Old Kingdom
periods—Khasekhemui (Dynasty II), Khufu (Dynasty IV) and Neuserre
(Dynasty V)—are used to argue for the existence of a form of sanctuary or temple at