EGYPTIAN TEMPLES - Printable Version

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EGYPTIAN TEMPLES - ashok pareek - 11-01-2018

THE OLD KINGDOM TEMPLES

KHAFRE's valley temple :

Slightly off-square in plan the temple has two entrances leading to a transverse vestibule that leads to a two
aisled ante-chapel and finally a three aisled chapel that is purest of all megalithic constructions the two rows of 15
feet high square columns supporting red granite lintels . the space between two columns filled by enormous royal
sculptures, illuminated by open to sky central bay. From here started a 600 yards long cause-way leading to the
mortuary temple.

KHAFRE's mortuary temple
Consisting of similar but a complex set of spaces , used perhaps for the performance of last rites, started with an

intricate set of vestibule leading to an ante-chapel recalling the inverted T shape of the valley temple, shaped by
aisles of diminishing length. This lead to a narrow door that opened into a cross axial court, open to sky, sides of
which had niches for royal sculpture. The court yard was surrounded by an aisle that lead to a multitude of chapels
dedicated to various gods of Egyptian pantheon. The open to sky court, the intricate and inaccessible series of
spaces understandably capable of overwhelming the visitors fulfilled the goals of all powerful, absolute kings and
priests.

THE MIDDLE KINGDOM TEMPLES

Gigantic mausoleums built on the surface of the earth was abandoned during this period and the tombs were

carved out of the living rock. These tombs had a simple program of spaces ; an entrance portico, an offerings room
, and a sepulchral recess. At Beni-Hasan one such tomb has portico supported by columns that are sixteen sided
prisms bearing on top a rudimentary capital termed as proto-doric column. The excavation of the tomb was ordered
by the ruler as early as possible in his life and the labyrinthine excavation was stopped and sealed forever after hi!
burial. To associate monumentality to his sepulcher gigantic temples were constructed on the eastern bank startins
at the base of the cliffs extending into the rocky uplands.

Temple of Mentuhotep

starting at the base of the cliffs with a gateway facing west ,a large courtyard surrounded by colonnades carved ir

the rocks approached through a ramp, had another axially arranged ramp leading to a terrace or platform, on whiclstood
another platform, the retaining walls of both having colonnades all around, crowned by a pyramid accordin~
to modern reconstruction by archaeologists . This hypothetical pyramid was symbolic and small in size, unde~
which is a false burial chamber with an empty sarcophagus. From here was lead a path to another court beyond
which lay the sacrosanct tomb of Mentuhotep.

Temple of queen Hetshapsut


One of the most singular rulerjof ancient Egypt, married her half brother Tuthmosis II, who had a son from another

alliance. At his death she served as regent to her nephew stepson, and refused to relinquish powers when the
youth reached maturity. She built for herself the most unegyptian monument, which superficially seen appears
conventional development of Mentuhoteps tomb, having the same elements of composition. But their application is
tellingly different, the series of ramps ascending to terraces assume the qualities of a linear axial composition
compared to the centralized form, of the ensemble of terrace and the hypothetical pyramid at the earlier tomb. With
the two column deep colonnade base, open terraces it becomes an architecture of hollowed out masses, voids and
open spaces. This is here that the architecture of ancient Egypt come closest to the visual sureness of Greeks.

for more detail...


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RE: EGYPTIAN TEMPLES - dipak.jain - 11-02-2018

Thanks Pareek sir for sharing this. 

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