Recent archaeological investigations at the Karnak temple complex in Luxor, Egypt, have revealed a previously unknown sacred lake.
The finding was officially announced during a press conference held by a joint Egyptian-Chinese archaeological mission.
Karnak, one of the largest temple complexes in Ancient Egypt, served as an important centre of religious, political and economic activity for over a millennium.
While the existence of such a monumental feature had long been hypothesised, its confirmation provides important new evidence for understanding ritual practices and temple organisation in ancient Egypt.
Central to Egyptian temple theology was the concept of Nun, the primordial waters from which creation emerged. Lakes sacred in nature, the most sacred of which were located in major temples, represented this universal ocean, as well as a crucial site of ritual purification and daily cult practice.
The newly uncovered lake covers an area of 50 square metres and consists of a stone basin situated in the temple precinct. According to the excavation team, the structure aligns with the known architectural and symbolic characteristics of sacred lakes, reinforcing its identification as a ritual feature rather than a utilitarian water source.
Vincent Rondot, Egyptologist and honorary director of the Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the Louvre Museum, pointed out that sacred lakes served as “essential theological instruments” that allowed temple complexes to function autonomously and perform the rituals. Priests also used the water for purification rites before rituals, emphasising the lake’s importance in the religious life.
Additional finds from the same excavation area further underscore Karnak’s archaeological richness. In a chapel dedicated to the god Osiris, archaeologists uncovered three shrines, animal bones, and several small statuettes. These artifacts indicate continued ritual activity and animal sacrifices, providing additional evidence of the site as an active religious site over an extended time period.
Sources : Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities
