While passing through the second pylon look to your right and you will see a colossal granite statue of Ramses the Great. At one time a matching statue stood — or rather sat — on the other side of the archway as well, but that one has been taken away for refurbishing.
The portal itself is 29.5 meters (97 ft) high and leads into what is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Egyptian architecture ever conceived: the Great Hypostyle Hall of Ramses II.
The hall measures 102 meters (335 ft) wide and 53 meters (174 ft) long. Here, in a perennial challenge to the ages, an incredible 134 columns, each 23 meters (75 ft) high, rise up to meet the sky. The top of each of the open papyrus capitals measures nearly 15 meters (50 ft) in circumference — the equivalent of standing room for 50 people.