DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4147#0030
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION.
23
It takes its start from the place where the sandstone
footing blocks return at right angles with the retain-
ing wall. The eastern faces of these blocks are cut
with a slight inclination, indicating as we may suppose
that a slope was to rise beyond it. Above the sloping
red line the surface of the retaining wall is smoothed
and finished off. Below the line the stones are left in
the rough, leading us to infer that they were not to be
visible. From these indications it is reasonable to
suppose that, according to the intention of the de-
signer of the temple, the approach to the Southern
Speos was to have been by a series of steps, or a slope
rising from the spot indicated by the sandstone foot-
ings and ending somewhat west of the outer columns
of the portico or vestibule which was afterwards added
to the speos.
When it had been, decided that the outer portico
should be added, the method of approach had to be
changed. Experimental lines were drawn on the re-
taining wall, some starting from the feet of the new
columns, others more to the east, some nearly of the
same inclination as the original approach, others with
a more gentle slope.
When the recent excavations were made and the
temple was cleared of the vast accumulation under
which it had been for so long buried, no pavement of
any sort was found, nor remains of steps following
any of the inclined lines.
West of the sandstone footings last described we find
a wall of crude brick, which crosses the narrow space
between the walls. The masonry of the retaining
wall is built on and over the brick wall which is set
diagonally from north-east to south-west, as shown
on the plan, pi. CLXXII. The inclosure wall of the
temple to our left stops against the brick wall. From
these indications it is clear that the crude brick wall is
of older date than the temple we are describing, or its
inclosure wall.
It remains to give a description of the panels and
sculpture with which the retaining wall is decorated.
As is shown on the elevation, fig. 7, pi. CLXXL, the
surface is ornamented with a series of panelled pilasters.
The upper part of each pilaster is sculptured with the
image, in low relief, of a hawk and a ura3us alternately:
very dignified and fine pieces of workmanship.
The lower part of each pilaster, and also the space
between, is ornamented with a dado of two panels on
each space. The way in which these panels are made,
by using a very slight relief and sloping the surfaces
between the vertical lines, has already been referred
to, and is shown on the plate.
It has been stated that no remains of pavement or of
steps were found when the space between the retain-
ing and the inclosure walls was cleared out. It is
therefore uncertain whether, even for the steepest
approach for which we have distinct evidence, it
extended across the above-mentioned space from north
to south or not. The wall on the north side of the
space is left rough where it would be hidden by the
ramp. The wall on the south side is not, and we must
now give some evidence which seems to point to the
fact that perhaps it was not intended to be covered—
that the ramp or stair of ascent did not extend in
width from wall to wall. The weathering of the wall-
surfaces is our guide.
The limestone of which the temple and its adjuncts
are built turns, by exposure to the sun and weather of
Egypt, to a most beautiful warm golden brown, re-
minding us of the colour on the Parthenon. This we
might expect to find most intense on that side of
the wall turned towards the sun.
The inclosure wall of the temple lying east and west
has a face exposed on both the north (towards the
retaining wall) and the south. The north face is but
little touched by the sun, yet its surface is weathered
to as rich a brown as the south face. The retaining
wall facing due south is exposed to an intense glare.
We might expect to find that the surface retained
some of its original whiteness, or an approach thereto,
where it was hidden below some one of the sloping red
lines, while we should find it of the beautiful tawny
hue above the red lines. The tawny colour begins
high up at the west end of the wall face, and ultimately
reaches the ground at the extreme east end of the
wall. It may be thought that we here have an indica-
tion that a ramp was made following the line of easiest
slope-; but unfortunately for such a view the top of
the protected line, which we may suppose indicates
the surface of the ramp, if produced upon the wall face
takes us quite above the proper landing-place at the
portico of the Southern Speos, and also above the
parapet which was added to the top of the inclosure
wall. It is therefore difficult to come to any conclusion
from such indications as we find. It seems most
probable that the ascent was not of the full width of
the space between the walls, and that consequently the
north face of the inclosure wall remained exposed.
The line of unweathered surface on the retaining wall
23
It takes its start from the place where the sandstone
footing blocks return at right angles with the retain-
ing wall. The eastern faces of these blocks are cut
with a slight inclination, indicating as we may suppose
that a slope was to rise beyond it. Above the sloping
red line the surface of the retaining wall is smoothed
and finished off. Below the line the stones are left in
the rough, leading us to infer that they were not to be
visible. From these indications it is reasonable to
suppose that, according to the intention of the de-
signer of the temple, the approach to the Southern
Speos was to have been by a series of steps, or a slope
rising from the spot indicated by the sandstone foot-
ings and ending somewhat west of the outer columns
of the portico or vestibule which was afterwards added
to the speos.
When it had been, decided that the outer portico
should be added, the method of approach had to be
changed. Experimental lines were drawn on the re-
taining wall, some starting from the feet of the new
columns, others more to the east, some nearly of the
same inclination as the original approach, others with
a more gentle slope.
When the recent excavations were made and the
temple was cleared of the vast accumulation under
which it had been for so long buried, no pavement of
any sort was found, nor remains of steps following
any of the inclined lines.
West of the sandstone footings last described we find
a wall of crude brick, which crosses the narrow space
between the walls. The masonry of the retaining
wall is built on and over the brick wall which is set
diagonally from north-east to south-west, as shown
on the plan, pi. CLXXII. The inclosure wall of the
temple to our left stops against the brick wall. From
these indications it is clear that the crude brick wall is
of older date than the temple we are describing, or its
inclosure wall.
It remains to give a description of the panels and
sculpture with which the retaining wall is decorated.
As is shown on the elevation, fig. 7, pi. CLXXL, the
surface is ornamented with a series of panelled pilasters.
The upper part of each pilaster is sculptured with the
image, in low relief, of a hawk and a ura3us alternately:
very dignified and fine pieces of workmanship.
The lower part of each pilaster, and also the space
between, is ornamented with a dado of two panels on
each space. The way in which these panels are made,
by using a very slight relief and sloping the surfaces
between the vertical lines, has already been referred
to, and is shown on the plate.
It has been stated that no remains of pavement or of
steps were found when the space between the retain-
ing and the inclosure walls was cleared out. It is
therefore uncertain whether, even for the steepest
approach for which we have distinct evidence, it
extended across the above-mentioned space from north
to south or not. The wall on the north side of the
space is left rough where it would be hidden by the
ramp. The wall on the south side is not, and we must
now give some evidence which seems to point to the
fact that perhaps it was not intended to be covered—
that the ramp or stair of ascent did not extend in
width from wall to wall. The weathering of the wall-
surfaces is our guide.
The limestone of which the temple and its adjuncts
are built turns, by exposure to the sun and weather of
Egypt, to a most beautiful warm golden brown, re-
minding us of the colour on the Parthenon. This we
might expect to find most intense on that side of
the wall turned towards the sun.
The inclosure wall of the temple lying east and west
has a face exposed on both the north (towards the
retaining wall) and the south. The north face is but
little touched by the sun, yet its surface is weathered
to as rich a brown as the south face. The retaining
wall facing due south is exposed to an intense glare.
We might expect to find that the surface retained
some of its original whiteness, or an approach thereto,
where it was hidden below some one of the sloping red
lines, while we should find it of the beautiful tawny
hue above the red lines. The tawny colour begins
high up at the west end of the wall face, and ultimately
reaches the ground at the extreme east end of the
wall. It may be thought that we here have an indica-
tion that a ramp was made following the line of easiest
slope-; but unfortunately for such a view the top of
the protected line, which we may suppose indicates
the surface of the ramp, if produced upon the wall face
takes us quite above the proper landing-place at the
portico of the Southern Speos, and also above the
parapet which was added to the top of the inclosure
wall. It is therefore difficult to come to any conclusion
from such indications as we find. It seems most
probable that the ascent was not of the full width of
the space between the walls, and that consequently the
north face of the inclosure wall remained exposed.
The line of unweathered surface on the retaining wall