DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3990#0022
21
portion has sunk slightly (5 centimetres) and is not close to the older work, being -185 metre from it at the ground line and 100 metre at
the bottom.
The blocks arc of sandstone, and the edge of the trench in which they were laid is only -100 metre from the face of the masonry.
We can now shortly summarise the facts which have been set forth above.
(T.) At present all foundations except those walls which carry the pavement at the south end of the colonnades are above the level of high
Nile, though all of them are wetted by infiltration, and the earth turned out at a depth of 2 metres from the surface was always moist.
(II.) None of these foundations were found to be in any way weathered or corroded by the damp, as was the case of buildings incumbered with
village rubbish, where the stones at the surface of the ground were often reduced to a friable sand, as at the Temple of Imhotep (E), and in the East
Colonnade (Y), showing that this action is due to salts in the village soil.
(111.) Neither the quay wall nor the stairway walls show any considerable amount of bulging, which can be attributed directly to the expansive
force of the wet earth behind. Changes of direction are sometimes to be seen, but these are usually, if not always, to be explained by additions at
latter periods.
(IV.) The stone of these Avails shows no deterioration after alternate wetting and drying at high and low Niles for some 1,900 years past.
(V), The removal of the village rubbish over the whole island has removed the source of the salts which would soak into the stone work, and
afterwards, crystallising out under the influence of evaporation, would rapidly destroy the surface of the stones.
(VI.) There seems no reason, judging from the state of sculptured blocks lying in the river, and from tin; Nilometer scales, to anticipate any
damage to inscriptions which may be submerged so long as it is the river water and not the wet village rubbish which is in contact with them. Taking now
the case of a reservoir with a water level at K. L. 106 00 metres for about two months in the spring annually, the supporting of the rooting blocks and
pavement at the south end (Part VIII.) of the island would prevent any further sagging of those that are broken, while the quay wall, over two metres
thick, and in part at any rate founded on rock, should be able to withstand the pressure of the wet earth behind, which would be further resisted by the
masonry walls which exist running at right angles to the quay wall in the southern part of the colonnade.
Hie wall of the temple of Ar-hes-nefer (B), weakly founded as it is, might be endangered.
The west end of the great pylon is founded on fewer courses than the rest of it, but the old foundations alongside it should prevent any movement
of the earth below.
The Temple of Isis Usret (N)(the Mammiseum) is founded on somewhat shallow foundations, but those of its colonnade, which practically join those
of the temple, form a wide base to carry a temple which is of no very great sixe. The main Temple of Isis (M), being founded altogether on granite rock,
can cause no anxiety, but the little that remains of the temple of Har-ned-iotef Avould require buttressing up to preserve the north and west sides. The
Coptic Church (P), having no foundations, would probably settle, unless it was found possible to put in a bed of concrete to carry the three
metres of stone wall which remain; of the other Coptic Church (Q) so little exists that it might remain, there being no walls of any height, though no
doubt the pavement would settle.
The wall of the Temple of Caesar Augustus (L) in its present cracked state can hardly be expected to stand the altered conditions, but there
appears no reason to think that the gateway in front of it would be harmed. The Temple of Hathor ((b) and the Kiosk (K) are both founded on deep
foundations within masonry quay walls, and there seems no likelihood of any damage coming to them.
portion has sunk slightly (5 centimetres) and is not close to the older work, being -185 metre from it at the ground line and 100 metre at
the bottom.
The blocks arc of sandstone, and the edge of the trench in which they were laid is only -100 metre from the face of the masonry.
We can now shortly summarise the facts which have been set forth above.
(T.) At present all foundations except those walls which carry the pavement at the south end of the colonnades are above the level of high
Nile, though all of them are wetted by infiltration, and the earth turned out at a depth of 2 metres from the surface was always moist.
(II.) None of these foundations were found to be in any way weathered or corroded by the damp, as was the case of buildings incumbered with
village rubbish, where the stones at the surface of the ground were often reduced to a friable sand, as at the Temple of Imhotep (E), and in the East
Colonnade (Y), showing that this action is due to salts in the village soil.
(111.) Neither the quay wall nor the stairway walls show any considerable amount of bulging, which can be attributed directly to the expansive
force of the wet earth behind. Changes of direction are sometimes to be seen, but these are usually, if not always, to be explained by additions at
latter periods.
(IV.) The stone of these Avails shows no deterioration after alternate wetting and drying at high and low Niles for some 1,900 years past.
(V), The removal of the village rubbish over the whole island has removed the source of the salts which would soak into the stone work, and
afterwards, crystallising out under the influence of evaporation, would rapidly destroy the surface of the stones.
(VI.) There seems no reason, judging from the state of sculptured blocks lying in the river, and from tin; Nilometer scales, to anticipate any
damage to inscriptions which may be submerged so long as it is the river water and not the wet village rubbish which is in contact with them. Taking now
the case of a reservoir with a water level at K. L. 106 00 metres for about two months in the spring annually, the supporting of the rooting blocks and
pavement at the south end (Part VIII.) of the island would prevent any further sagging of those that are broken, while the quay wall, over two metres
thick, and in part at any rate founded on rock, should be able to withstand the pressure of the wet earth behind, which would be further resisted by the
masonry walls which exist running at right angles to the quay wall in the southern part of the colonnade.
Hie wall of the temple of Ar-hes-nefer (B), weakly founded as it is, might be endangered.
The west end of the great pylon is founded on fewer courses than the rest of it, but the old foundations alongside it should prevent any movement
of the earth below.
The Temple of Isis Usret (N)(the Mammiseum) is founded on somewhat shallow foundations, but those of its colonnade, which practically join those
of the temple, form a wide base to carry a temple which is of no very great sixe. The main Temple of Isis (M), being founded altogether on granite rock,
can cause no anxiety, but the little that remains of the temple of Har-ned-iotef Avould require buttressing up to preserve the north and west sides. The
Coptic Church (P), having no foundations, would probably settle, unless it was found possible to put in a bed of concrete to carry the three
metres of stone wall which remain; of the other Coptic Church (Q) so little exists that it might remain, there being no walls of any height, though no
doubt the pavement would settle.
The wall of the Temple of Caesar Augustus (L) in its present cracked state can hardly be expected to stand the altered conditions, but there
appears no reason to think that the gateway in front of it would be harmed. The Temple of Hathor ((b) and the Kiosk (K) are both founded on deep
foundations within masonry quay walls, and there seems no likelihood of any damage coming to them.