Zuilen met hiërogliefen van de grote zaal (hypostylezaal) in de Tempel van Karnak c. 1870 - 1898

This photograph by Maison Bonfils captures the grand columns of the hypostyle hall in the Temple of Karnak. The columns are covered with hieroglyphs. These are not mere decorations but a complex script intertwining images and sounds, representing the sacred language of the pharaohs. Consider the ubiquitous presence of the sun disk, representing Ra, the god of the sun. It is not unique to Karnak. We find solar symbols across cultures, from the sun-chariots of Greek mythology to the radiant halos of Christian saints. The journey of the sun across the sky mirrors the human quest for enlightenment, a motif that resurfaces in diverse spiritual traditions. The hieroglyphs, once vibrant with color, now stand as faded echoes of a lost world, stirring a deep sense of temporal displacement. The photograph is a powerful reminder of how symbols persist, evolve, and engage our collective memory, shaping our understanding of the past and its enduring influence on the present.