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The Clerestory and Roof |
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A reconstruction of the roof and clerestory of the Hypostyle Hall. Almost none of the roofing slabs have collapsed. |
The word hypostyle means "having a roof or ceiling supported by rows of columns." The ultimate purpose of the Karnak Hypostyle Hall's 134 massive columns is to carry the load of an equally massive roof. Although flooded with sunlight today, in antiquity, the Hall was somewhat gloomy. Large slabs blocked out the sun, with a few small square holes cut in each one to admit a faint light. The roof slabs were supported by a network of ceiling beams resting on the columns. These beams are called architraves and many of them still survive. Others have fallen and large fragments of them lie in the yards surrounding the temple proper.
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