The hypostyle hall has 32 papyrus columns, most of which remain intact. One of the earliest photo that I’ve seen of the temple show these columns in pieces all over the courtyard — nothing like the impressive forest of columns that remain today.

The hypostyle hall was taken over by Ramesses IV and Ramesses VII, who took over the reliefs and added decorations to the hall. Even though they had nothing to do with erecting the columns, their cartouches are all over the walls.