DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4146#0010
THE
TEMPLE OF DEIR EL BAH AM.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.
PLATE CXIX.
THE UPPER COURT AND SANCTUAEY.
Plan, Elevation, and Sections.
The Upper Court is built close against the limestone
cliffs on the north and west, and is appiroachcd from
the middle platform by an inclined plane. Tt was
originally surrounded by a double colonnade, of which
nothing now remains in place except a few bases,
shown in solid lines on the rfian, and four columns
worked up into the later porch of entrance to the
central speos or Sanctuary on the west side, which
have been re-cut to harmonize with the later work.
But from these and other evidences it is possible
to recover the original design with a considerable
degree of certainty.
The court is entered from the cast by a granite
doorway at the top of the inclined plane leading
up from the middle platform of the temple and flanked
by two tiers of colonnaded terraces.
From the court doorways give access, on the north
to the North-western Hall, the Altar Court witli
vestibule ; on the south to a sijuare chamber and two
open courts, from the western of which open the
Southern Hall and another room of less importance ;
and on the west to the central speos or Sanctuary.
This doorway is of granite, like that in the east wall,
and is flanked by a series of nine niches on either side,
of which live are 3.25 in. high, by 1 m. deep, and
contained statues of Hatshepsu, the remaining four
being 1.84 in. high and 1.75 m. deep, and originally
fitted with double doors opening inwards. The five
northern niches are in great measure destroyed, and
the wall built up with rough Coptic masonry.
The central speos consists of three rock-cut
chambers lined with masonry. The first or eastern
chamber is the principal one ; it has a stone barrel roof
in horizontal courses, protected from stones falling from
the cliff above by an outer roof of massive inclined
slabs, and three, originally four, niches in its side walls,
the fourth being built up with later masonry, shown
in hatched lines on the section. The second chamber
has a flat ceiling and two narrow rooms north and
south; the third is an addition of Ptolemaic date,
with a flat ceiling. The porch of entrance to the
Sanctuary is also a Ptolemaic addition. Its low side
walls and the lower parts of its eastern doorway and
side columns remain, but its chief interest lies in
the fact that it gives a terminus post quern non for the
destruction of the original double colonnade.
The Southern Hall retains at its west end a piece of
its stone barrel vault, of similar construction to that
over the sanctuary, but of wider space. There is also
a line granite stele, much defaced, in its west wall.
The other rooms were ceiled with flat slabs of
stone in the usual way, and call for no special remark.
Facing the east doorway of the Southern Hall are
two small cupboards or recesses, 1.25 m. above floor
level.
In the open court to the east of these is what seems
TEMPLE OF DEIR EL BAH AM.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.
PLATE CXIX.
THE UPPER COURT AND SANCTUAEY.
Plan, Elevation, and Sections.
The Upper Court is built close against the limestone
cliffs on the north and west, and is appiroachcd from
the middle platform by an inclined plane. Tt was
originally surrounded by a double colonnade, of which
nothing now remains in place except a few bases,
shown in solid lines on the rfian, and four columns
worked up into the later porch of entrance to the
central speos or Sanctuary on the west side, which
have been re-cut to harmonize with the later work.
But from these and other evidences it is possible
to recover the original design with a considerable
degree of certainty.
The court is entered from the cast by a granite
doorway at the top of the inclined plane leading
up from the middle platform of the temple and flanked
by two tiers of colonnaded terraces.
From the court doorways give access, on the north
to the North-western Hall, the Altar Court witli
vestibule ; on the south to a sijuare chamber and two
open courts, from the western of which open the
Southern Hall and another room of less importance ;
and on the west to the central speos or Sanctuary.
This doorway is of granite, like that in the east wall,
and is flanked by a series of nine niches on either side,
of which live are 3.25 in. high, by 1 m. deep, and
contained statues of Hatshepsu, the remaining four
being 1.84 in. high and 1.75 m. deep, and originally
fitted with double doors opening inwards. The five
northern niches are in great measure destroyed, and
the wall built up with rough Coptic masonry.
The central speos consists of three rock-cut
chambers lined with masonry. The first or eastern
chamber is the principal one ; it has a stone barrel roof
in horizontal courses, protected from stones falling from
the cliff above by an outer roof of massive inclined
slabs, and three, originally four, niches in its side walls,
the fourth being built up with later masonry, shown
in hatched lines on the section. The second chamber
has a flat ceiling and two narrow rooms north and
south; the third is an addition of Ptolemaic date,
with a flat ceiling. The porch of entrance to the
Sanctuary is also a Ptolemaic addition. Its low side
walls and the lower parts of its eastern doorway and
side columns remain, but its chief interest lies in
the fact that it gives a terminus post quern non for the
destruction of the original double colonnade.
The Southern Hall retains at its west end a piece of
its stone barrel vault, of similar construction to that
over the sanctuary, but of wider space. There is also
a line granite stele, much defaced, in its west wall.
The other rooms were ceiled with flat slabs of
stone in the usual way, and call for no special remark.
Facing the east doorway of the Southern Hall are
two small cupboards or recesses, 1.25 m. above floor
level.
In the open court to the east of these is what seems