A standard Egyptian temple plan is established, often on a monumental scale, with floral motifs as characteristic decoration on the columns.

The pavilion of Sesotris at the Great Temple of Amun (Amun-Re) at Karnak demonstrates a high level of artisanship in tomb reliefs, gold ornamentation, and paintings.

The Great Temple probably dates back to the Old Kingdom, but the earliest surviving building is the pavilion of Senusret I, who reigned between about 1971 and 1926 BCE.