Final answer:
The arrangement of spaces in New Kingdom Egyptian cult temples is best described as having a hypostyle hall, which was a space with a roof supported by columns. The columns were decorated with lotus, papyrus, and palm plants to represent the marsh-like environment of creation. The temple roof represented the sky and the innermost part of the temple symbolized the rising mound of creation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The arrangement of spaces in New Kingdom Egyptian cult temples is best described as having a hypostyle hall. The hypostyle hall is a space with a roof supported by columns, and it was a distinctive feature of Egyptian temples. In the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak, for example, there is a hypostyle hall with 134 massive sandstone columns, some standing at 69 feet.
The columns in the hypostyle hall were designed with lotus, papyrus, and palm plants to represent the marsh-like environment of creation. The temple roof represented the sky and was often decorated with stars and birds. The innermost part of the temple, where the sanctuary of the god was located, gave the impression of a rising mound, symbolizing the creation of the world.
Overall, the arrangement of spaces in New Kingdom Egyptian cult temples was carefully designed to reflect the cosmological beliefs of ancient Egypt and create a sacred and awe-inspiring atmosphere.
The arrangement of spaces in New Kingdom Egyptian cult temples, like the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak, is best described as a hypostyle hall, a large space with roofs supported by columns and illuminated by clerestory lighting. They symbolize the creation story of ancient Egypt with restricted access as one moves inward.
The term that best describes the arrangement of spaces in New Kingdom Egyptian cult temples, specifically the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak, is a hypostyle hall. This architectural feature includes a vast space whose roof is supported by columns. In the case of the Temple of Amun-Re, there were 134 massive sandstone columns with the central twelve standing at an impressive 69 feet tall. The use of clerestory lighting was a significant innovation, allowing light and air to enter through high windows above eye level, which illuminated the hall and created an awe-inspiring atmosphere.
These temples reflected the ancient Egyptian concept of temple as cosmos, signifying a reflection of 'zep tepi' or 'the first time'—the creation of the world. The design incorporated elements that symbolized creation, such as the rising floor toward the sanctuary resembling the emerging mound from the primeval waters. The columns resembled lotus, papyrus, and palm plants to echo the environment of creation. As one moved further into the temple, access became increasingly restricted, adding to the sanctity of the inner spaces.