Rameses I.conceived the idea; Seti I.finished the bulk of the work, and Rameses II.

wrought nearly the whole of the decoration.

The Pharaohs of the next following dynasties vied with each other for such blank spaces as might be found, wherein to engrave their names upon the columns, and so to share the glory of the three founders; but farther they did not venture.

Left thus, however, the monument was still incomplete.

It still needed one last pylon and a colonnaded court.