In spite of its rough-cut stones and lack of decoration, the unfinished First Pylon is an impressive introduction to the Temple of Amen. It was planned by Sheshonk I (Dynasty 22) to be an exact copy of the Second Pylon; actual building did not begin until the reign of Nectanebo I (Dynasty 30). The pylon stands 113 meters (370 feet) long, 15 meters (49 feet) thick, and 40 meters (142 feet) high. Eight large windows were cut into each of its two towers and below them, four niches held flagpoles that towered at least 46 meters (165 feet) high and carried long, colored linen banners. In the center of the pylonstands a doorway 19 meters (62 feet) high, 7.5 meters (24 feet) wide, and 5 meters (16 feet) deep. In antiquity, wooden doors were fitted here, covered with sheets of gold or bronze with beaten relief decoration. The adjacent walls still show traces of a fire that destroyed the doors early in the Ptolemaic Period. High up on the right (south) jamb, scholars accompanying Napoleon’s expedition in 1799 inscribed the latitude and longitude of “Carnac,” Luxor, and other Egyptian sites. The height of the inscription above the modern ground level shows how much debris covered the pylon when it was seen by those Europeans two centuries ago.

From" The Illustrated Guide to Luxor" by kent R.Weeks ,published by the American University in Cairo Press. Copyright © 2005 White Star S.p.a