DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24#0021
— 15 —
under the greater part of the gateway descend at least to 99 metres, and those of the
north wall of the chapel rest on silt at 101-35 metres, while the south wall foundation
extends only to 102-2 metres.
As the difference of level of the foundations on the two sides might have given rise,
by differential settlement, to collapse of the walls, the south wall was underpinned to the level
of the base of the north one, i.e. to 101-35 metres, the new masonry being carried northward
so as to join on to the existing work and form a continuous base right across the width
of the Chapel.
GATEWAY OF PHILADELPHIA.
(Plate V.)
The foundation of this gateway was found to extend down to 102-7 metres, and to be
continuous across the opening. As the base of the adjoining great pylon is at 100-9 metres,
some 1-8 metres lower, differential settlement was to be anticipated, and to prevent this the
foundation of the gateway was underpinned with rubble masonry in cement down to the level
of the pylon base. It was found that the ancient builders had got out a vertical-sided open
excavation about 2 metres deep, of the exact size of the proposed foundation, in which they
had placed a bed 75 centimetres thick of clean dry river sand as a basis for their masonry.
When the foundations of the pylon adjoining the gateway were exposed, it was seen that
instead of being continuous past the latter, the two lower courses were omitted where they
would have come alongside the gateway. The explanation would appear to be that (as the
pylon is of later date than the gateway) in getting out the pylon foundation, the sand under
the gateway was tapped, and the builders feared to go any deeper at this point lest the gateway
should fall.
THE TEMPLE OF TRAJAN, commonly called "THE KIOSK"
or "PHARAOH'S BED."
(Plates XIII and XIV.)
The exploratory works had shown that this temple was founded on broad footings
descending about 4 metres below the surface, while the rock-surface falls from the level of
95 metres at the north-west corner to below 90 metres at the east side. It had also been
found that longitudinal walls existed within the building near the east doorway, but the
true extent and significance of the substructure only became evident after a large portion of
the excavations for underpinning down to saturation-level had been got out. It then became
evident that the Kiosk, like the Temple of Nectanebo, was built over old foundations, but
askew to them.
under the greater part of the gateway descend at least to 99 metres, and those of the
north wall of the chapel rest on silt at 101-35 metres, while the south wall foundation
extends only to 102-2 metres.
As the difference of level of the foundations on the two sides might have given rise,
by differential settlement, to collapse of the walls, the south wall was underpinned to the level
of the base of the north one, i.e. to 101-35 metres, the new masonry being carried northward
so as to join on to the existing work and form a continuous base right across the width
of the Chapel.
GATEWAY OF PHILADELPHIA.
(Plate V.)
The foundation of this gateway was found to extend down to 102-7 metres, and to be
continuous across the opening. As the base of the adjoining great pylon is at 100-9 metres,
some 1-8 metres lower, differential settlement was to be anticipated, and to prevent this the
foundation of the gateway was underpinned with rubble masonry in cement down to the level
of the pylon base. It was found that the ancient builders had got out a vertical-sided open
excavation about 2 metres deep, of the exact size of the proposed foundation, in which they
had placed a bed 75 centimetres thick of clean dry river sand as a basis for their masonry.
When the foundations of the pylon adjoining the gateway were exposed, it was seen that
instead of being continuous past the latter, the two lower courses were omitted where they
would have come alongside the gateway. The explanation would appear to be that (as the
pylon is of later date than the gateway) in getting out the pylon foundation, the sand under
the gateway was tapped, and the builders feared to go any deeper at this point lest the gateway
should fall.
THE TEMPLE OF TRAJAN, commonly called "THE KIOSK"
or "PHARAOH'S BED."
(Plates XIII and XIV.)
The exploratory works had shown that this temple was founded on broad footings
descending about 4 metres below the surface, while the rock-surface falls from the level of
95 metres at the north-west corner to below 90 metres at the east side. It had also been
found that longitudinal walls existed within the building near the east doorway, but the
true extent and significance of the substructure only became evident after a large portion of
the excavations for underpinning down to saturation-level had been got out. It then became
evident that the Kiosk, like the Temple of Nectanebo, was built over old foundations, but
askew to them.