DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4665#0033
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.
23
(J) The early Temenos of Abydos.
Plate XXXVII.
This historic but little known enclosure has never
been systematically excavated, but is to be the
centre of Professor Petrie's investigations during the
coming season. It would, for this reason, be futile to
attempt any detailed description of its features ; but
its present appearance is not altogether uninstructive.
In its north-west corner is the small enclosure known
as the Kom es-Sultan. The deep clearing made in
it by Mariette, with results so remarkable, has bared
also on either side the walls that enclose it, to a
depth of more than twenty feet. There are plainly
three distinct periods of building, in the Old and
Middle Kingdoms, but it cannot be said that the
bottom is yet reached nor the earliest walling revealed.
The whole of the outer wall around the large
enclosure is possibly of the Middle Kingdom; it
is built as usual in alternate sections curved and
straight. It is difficult to account for the shape it
assumes, or to explain its relation towards the smaller
walls which are symmetrically placed. On the north
side, a large space stands bare, or is under cultivation,
being liable to flood water at high. Nile. This has
destroyed in that direction any traces that might be
found in a cursory excavation such as was made for
the purpose of this plan. The causeway, however,
from the eastern towards the western gate, stands
clear of the annual waters. It is curbed with
dressed blocks of limestone, and was paved appar-
ently with slabs of the same. In the area it
seems to terminate in a great threshold stone of
granite ; at the other end with the stout jamb of a
doorway ; while about its middle it is crossed by a
pavement leading from a square platform which lies
partly covered by a mound. There are other similar
platforms, notably two which lie connected to one
another at right angles, in the south-westerly portion
of the area. These are supposed to be in some way
connected with the early temple or temples that
formerly existed on the site. There are remains,
also, of restorations or additions made by Rameses
the Ilnd in the XlXth dynasty. A stone portico of
four columns, as it were in antis, of somewhat pleasing
effect, is well preserved in its foundations just without
the western gate at the approach to the desert. At
a much later date again, reconstructions seem to have
been made in the south-easterly portion, and possibly
the break in the wall at that place dates from the
same period, though this is by no means clear.
(g) Some Greek Graffiti from the- Temple of
Seti. Plates XXXVIII-XL.
Both Professor Sayce and M. Frohner have
published some selection of the graffiti which abound
on the walls of the Temple of Seti. On the present
occasion it had been purposed to obtain a fairly
complete set of all the more interesting or typical of
these inscriptions. This design was frustrated by an
accident, and later removal to a new site for excava-
tions prevented resumption of the work. These fifty
are therefore given as a typical series obtained from
the three small cella; of Isis, Osiris and Horu?, in the
north-western corner of the structure. Mr. Milne
deals with the transcription and dating of these in
Chapter VI.
23
(J) The early Temenos of Abydos.
Plate XXXVII.
This historic but little known enclosure has never
been systematically excavated, but is to be the
centre of Professor Petrie's investigations during the
coming season. It would, for this reason, be futile to
attempt any detailed description of its features ; but
its present appearance is not altogether uninstructive.
In its north-west corner is the small enclosure known
as the Kom es-Sultan. The deep clearing made in
it by Mariette, with results so remarkable, has bared
also on either side the walls that enclose it, to a
depth of more than twenty feet. There are plainly
three distinct periods of building, in the Old and
Middle Kingdoms, but it cannot be said that the
bottom is yet reached nor the earliest walling revealed.
The whole of the outer wall around the large
enclosure is possibly of the Middle Kingdom; it
is built as usual in alternate sections curved and
straight. It is difficult to account for the shape it
assumes, or to explain its relation towards the smaller
walls which are symmetrically placed. On the north
side, a large space stands bare, or is under cultivation,
being liable to flood water at high. Nile. This has
destroyed in that direction any traces that might be
found in a cursory excavation such as was made for
the purpose of this plan. The causeway, however,
from the eastern towards the western gate, stands
clear of the annual waters. It is curbed with
dressed blocks of limestone, and was paved appar-
ently with slabs of the same. In the area it
seems to terminate in a great threshold stone of
granite ; at the other end with the stout jamb of a
doorway ; while about its middle it is crossed by a
pavement leading from a square platform which lies
partly covered by a mound. There are other similar
platforms, notably two which lie connected to one
another at right angles, in the south-westerly portion
of the area. These are supposed to be in some way
connected with the early temple or temples that
formerly existed on the site. There are remains,
also, of restorations or additions made by Rameses
the Ilnd in the XlXth dynasty. A stone portico of
four columns, as it were in antis, of somewhat pleasing
effect, is well preserved in its foundations just without
the western gate at the approach to the desert. At
a much later date again, reconstructions seem to have
been made in the south-easterly portion, and possibly
the break in the wall at that place dates from the
same period, though this is by no means clear.
(g) Some Greek Graffiti from the- Temple of
Seti. Plates XXXVIII-XL.
Both Professor Sayce and M. Frohner have
published some selection of the graffiti which abound
on the walls of the Temple of Seti. On the present
occasion it had been purposed to obtain a fairly
complete set of all the more interesting or typical of
these inscriptions. This design was frustrated by an
accident, and later removal to a new site for excava-
tions prevented resumption of the work. These fifty
are therefore given as a typical series obtained from
the three small cella; of Isis, Osiris and Horu?, in the
north-western corner of the structure. Mr. Milne
deals with the transcription and dating of these in
Chapter VI.