DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44744#0023
will of the archpriests. On the other hand, the partition of the country into Upper
Egypt and Lower Egypt, governed by rulers residing in Tanis, impeded a more
serious activity in the field of monumental architecture. Only Herihor, the first
ruler of the Twenty-First Dynasty, added a courtyard and a colonnade to the Temple
of Khons.
The kings of the Twenty-Second Dynasty marked their presence at Karnak mainly
by building a portico in the south-eastern corner of the first courtyard, between the
temple of Ramesses II and the Second Pylon. King Osorkon II also erected a small
chapel by the side of the Sacred Lake.
When the Nubian rulers from Napata conquered Egypt, they had to obtain the
favours of Amun before they were able to rule as Egyptian dynasts. Even Shabaka,
therefore, erected a kiosk by the Sacred Lake at Karnak, and a gate next to the
temple of Ptah. King Taharqa contributed even more to the embellishment of
Karnak by erecting the impressive colonnade in the first courtyard of the Temple
of Amun. One of its colossal columns (21 m. high) is preserved in situ to the present
day. Between the southern wall of the temple and the Sacred Lake, Taharqa con-
structed a small sacral edifice, and in the eastern part of the enclosure, in the Temple
of Amun, a colonnade by the small temple of Ramesses II. Between the sanctuaries
of Amun and of Mut, he built a chapel for Osiris-Ptah, and erected one of the
chapels inside the temple of Mut.
The Assyrian invasion was the greatest catastrophe in Theban history. Some months
after Taharqa’s death, Assurbanipal, during the second campaign in the year 663,
completely destroyed the capital. Mentuemhet was then governor of Thebes, known
to us from extant portraits, a loyal servant of all the successive rulers. Of Nubian
origin, he was appointed by the Nubian kings.
It was not until the Thirtieth Dynasty that architectural work on a larger scale
was attempted, together with renovation following damage caused by the Assyrians.
Nectanebes I erected the First Pylon, the one through which we today enter the
Temple of Amun, and surrounded the sacred enclosure with a strong wall, built
from crude bricks, adding an entrance gate on the eastern side. The sanctuary of
Montu received a new pylon at the same time. The subsequent rulers — Teos and
Nectanebes II — continued to rebuild the destroyed temples. Nectanebes II also
erected a little shrine to the east of the sacred enclosure.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND THE PTOLEMIES
It is characteristic that, after the conquest of Egypt, Alexander the Great not only
visited Amun’s oracle in the Siwa Oasis, but also left his mark on Amun’s center
of worship — the temple of Karnak. On his orders, certain alterations to one of
the chambers behind the Festival Hall of Tuthmosis III were undertaken. The
chamber, probably destroyed, was decorated with new reliefs which repeated the
content of the earlier sacral representations.
Philip Arrhidaeus erected on the axis of the Great Temple, in the middle of Queen 20
Egypt and Lower Egypt, governed by rulers residing in Tanis, impeded a more
serious activity in the field of monumental architecture. Only Herihor, the first
ruler of the Twenty-First Dynasty, added a courtyard and a colonnade to the Temple
of Khons.
The kings of the Twenty-Second Dynasty marked their presence at Karnak mainly
by building a portico in the south-eastern corner of the first courtyard, between the
temple of Ramesses II and the Second Pylon. King Osorkon II also erected a small
chapel by the side of the Sacred Lake.
When the Nubian rulers from Napata conquered Egypt, they had to obtain the
favours of Amun before they were able to rule as Egyptian dynasts. Even Shabaka,
therefore, erected a kiosk by the Sacred Lake at Karnak, and a gate next to the
temple of Ptah. King Taharqa contributed even more to the embellishment of
Karnak by erecting the impressive colonnade in the first courtyard of the Temple
of Amun. One of its colossal columns (21 m. high) is preserved in situ to the present
day. Between the southern wall of the temple and the Sacred Lake, Taharqa con-
structed a small sacral edifice, and in the eastern part of the enclosure, in the Temple
of Amun, a colonnade by the small temple of Ramesses II. Between the sanctuaries
of Amun and of Mut, he built a chapel for Osiris-Ptah, and erected one of the
chapels inside the temple of Mut.
The Assyrian invasion was the greatest catastrophe in Theban history. Some months
after Taharqa’s death, Assurbanipal, during the second campaign in the year 663,
completely destroyed the capital. Mentuemhet was then governor of Thebes, known
to us from extant portraits, a loyal servant of all the successive rulers. Of Nubian
origin, he was appointed by the Nubian kings.
It was not until the Thirtieth Dynasty that architectural work on a larger scale
was attempted, together with renovation following damage caused by the Assyrians.
Nectanebes I erected the First Pylon, the one through which we today enter the
Temple of Amun, and surrounded the sacred enclosure with a strong wall, built
from crude bricks, adding an entrance gate on the eastern side. The sanctuary of
Montu received a new pylon at the same time. The subsequent rulers — Teos and
Nectanebes II — continued to rebuild the destroyed temples. Nectanebes II also
erected a little shrine to the east of the sacred enclosure.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND THE PTOLEMIES
It is characteristic that, after the conquest of Egypt, Alexander the Great not only
visited Amun’s oracle in the Siwa Oasis, but also left his mark on Amun’s center
of worship — the temple of Karnak. On his orders, certain alterations to one of
the chambers behind the Festival Hall of Tuthmosis III were undertaken. The
chamber, probably destroyed, was decorated with new reliefs which repeated the
content of the earlier sacral representations.
Philip Arrhidaeus erected on the axis of the Great Temple, in the middle of Queen 20