Avenue of Sphinxes

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg is the web site of Al-Ahram Weekly, February 15th … the avenue of sphinxes once connected the temples of Luxor and Karnak, where processions took place between the two during the Opet Festival. There were 1350 human headed sphinxes with the bodies of lions flanking the avenue – and some of them have now been restored. It was built during the reign of Nectanebo I of dynasty 30 and replaced, it is said, one built during dynasty 18 as recorded by Hatshepsut on the walls of the red chapel in Karnak. According to this inscription she built 6 chapels dedicated to Amun Re on the route of the avenue. Remains of her chapels were restored by Nectanebo which might be interesting from a revisionist perspective.