The outer public areas of the complex housed sacred lakes, clinics, kitchens, breweries, granaries and the ‘house of life’ – the temple university, library and scriptorium. A landing quay and grand processional walkways, often lined with rows of sphinxes and other huge statues, led to the temple walls and the massive Pylon gates to the temple proper.

Next came the outer courts, open to priests and sometimes the public, and then the inner halls, open only to purified priests. In here was the impressive Hypostyle Hall with its rows of massive columns. Finally, you reached the inner sanctuary, where only the king and elite priests were allowed. This contained offering halls, a chapel for the barque (boat) that carried the god’s statue and, ultimately, the holy shrine itself, home to the god’s statue.