DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4147#0033
26
DEIB EL BAHAIU.
We return to the central court, and entering by a
second doorway somewhat west of that last described,
we find ourselves in a court or ante-chamber leading to
apartments on the west. It does not seem likely that
Entrance to this place was covered. The limestone
Southern Hall
of Offerings. useaT in the temple is nowhere found
in large blocks or slabs ; it is a material quite unequal
to maintaining itself over a considerable span. The
span between the east and west walls of the space
under consideration is considerably greater than that
elsewhere in the temple. There are no signs of
columns, as in the vestibule to the Altar Court. We
are therefore driven to conclude that this was a court
open to the sky.
On its west side we see the doorways. The southern
Southern Hall opens into the Southern Hall of Offer-
or Offerings. ings, a room of some size, the length
extending east and west. We are at once struck by
observing the remains of the roof, which takes the
form of an arch, but as a matter of fact there is no
constructional arch. Rectangular blocks of stone are
jilaced one overhanging the other, the underside of
them is then cut into the form of a semi-circle, a
method of building we find also at Abydos. Although
the Egyptians were perfectly acquainted with the arch,
and used it from very early times, they built it in-
variably in brick, never in stone. At the western end
of this room is a large slab of granite ; the treasure-
seekers have cut the wall round about in their efforts
to recover the valuables which they supposed to be
hidden behind it.
A small chamber adjoins the Southern Hall of
Offerings on the north. This was roofed with slabs of
stone, while beyond it, to the west, lies another,
approached by a doorway in the south-west corner of
the great court.
This chamber retains its stone roof in good preserva-
tion.
As we have now visited each part of the temple,
certain observations may be permitted on matters of
interest which reveal to us either the order in which
various parts of the building were set up, or peculiari-
ties in the methods of construction.
I have feared that if all these more or less technical
details were crowded into the general description they
would but vex many readers.
On the general plan of the temple, plate CLXXII.,
certain white lines may be seen cutting across the
thickness of the walls. These indicate a lack of con-
tinuity in the masonry.
If we examine the granite doorway which leads into
the sanctuary from the upper court, we observe that
the wall on either side is cut off from the adjoining
walls in which are the recesses.
The first two chambers of the sanctuary are part of
the same construction as the masonry around the
granite doorway.
On either side of the granite doorway, and a little
removed from it, there is a considerable change in the
masonry. The courses of stone are not so deep as
around the doorway. A glance at the elevation shown
on sections A—B, pi. CLXX., and at pi. no. CXIX.,
vol. V., will make this clear. There can be little doubt
that the wall in which the granite doorway is set was
built before those adjoining. It may have been de-
sirable to complete this, which we may suppose to
have been a holy place of old time, with the least
possible delay.
If we enter the first room of the sanctuary we shall
find that it is roofed with blocks of masonry, each one
overhanging the other until they meet in a joint in the
middle. The under side of the blocks of stone is cut
away in the shape of an arch higher than a semi-circle,
an imperfect parabola. At some time considerable
repairs and even alterations have been made in this
room.
In the south wall and near the entrance is a square
recess which has been closed by folding doors. The
stones of the left jamb retain their sculpture; those of
the right have all been retooled and are still covered
with the masons' tool marks, never having been rubbed
down ready for the draughtsman who preceded the
sculptor.
Xext the floor the sculptured stones are still in situ
up to the west end of the room. Above these the
faces of the stones are tooled only, and they vary very
much in size, some being twice as deep as others.
Above these and just under the spring of the curved
roof are many stones in their original places, as we can
tell by the sculpture with which they are adorned.
There can be little doubt that most of this wall-face
has been renewed, perhaps rebuilt in consequence of
dislocation, for it seems possible that most of the
stones tooled over have been reset in their original
positions.
That the wall needed much structural repair it
would be difficult to prove, for had this been the case
. ■ Jx Mltlf*
^hl,
DEIB EL BAHAIU.
We return to the central court, and entering by a
second doorway somewhat west of that last described,
we find ourselves in a court or ante-chamber leading to
apartments on the west. It does not seem likely that
Entrance to this place was covered. The limestone
Southern Hall
of Offerings. useaT in the temple is nowhere found
in large blocks or slabs ; it is a material quite unequal
to maintaining itself over a considerable span. The
span between the east and west walls of the space
under consideration is considerably greater than that
elsewhere in the temple. There are no signs of
columns, as in the vestibule to the Altar Court. We
are therefore driven to conclude that this was a court
open to the sky.
On its west side we see the doorways. The southern
Southern Hall opens into the Southern Hall of Offer-
or Offerings. ings, a room of some size, the length
extending east and west. We are at once struck by
observing the remains of the roof, which takes the
form of an arch, but as a matter of fact there is no
constructional arch. Rectangular blocks of stone are
jilaced one overhanging the other, the underside of
them is then cut into the form of a semi-circle, a
method of building we find also at Abydos. Although
the Egyptians were perfectly acquainted with the arch,
and used it from very early times, they built it in-
variably in brick, never in stone. At the western end
of this room is a large slab of granite ; the treasure-
seekers have cut the wall round about in their efforts
to recover the valuables which they supposed to be
hidden behind it.
A small chamber adjoins the Southern Hall of
Offerings on the north. This was roofed with slabs of
stone, while beyond it, to the west, lies another,
approached by a doorway in the south-west corner of
the great court.
This chamber retains its stone roof in good preserva-
tion.
As we have now visited each part of the temple,
certain observations may be permitted on matters of
interest which reveal to us either the order in which
various parts of the building were set up, or peculiari-
ties in the methods of construction.
I have feared that if all these more or less technical
details were crowded into the general description they
would but vex many readers.
On the general plan of the temple, plate CLXXII.,
certain white lines may be seen cutting across the
thickness of the walls. These indicate a lack of con-
tinuity in the masonry.
If we examine the granite doorway which leads into
the sanctuary from the upper court, we observe that
the wall on either side is cut off from the adjoining
walls in which are the recesses.
The first two chambers of the sanctuary are part of
the same construction as the masonry around the
granite doorway.
On either side of the granite doorway, and a little
removed from it, there is a considerable change in the
masonry. The courses of stone are not so deep as
around the doorway. A glance at the elevation shown
on sections A—B, pi. CLXX., and at pi. no. CXIX.,
vol. V., will make this clear. There can be little doubt
that the wall in which the granite doorway is set was
built before those adjoining. It may have been de-
sirable to complete this, which we may suppose to
have been a holy place of old time, with the least
possible delay.
If we enter the first room of the sanctuary we shall
find that it is roofed with blocks of masonry, each one
overhanging the other until they meet in a joint in the
middle. The under side of the blocks of stone is cut
away in the shape of an arch higher than a semi-circle,
an imperfect parabola. At some time considerable
repairs and even alterations have been made in this
room.
In the south wall and near the entrance is a square
recess which has been closed by folding doors. The
stones of the left jamb retain their sculpture; those of
the right have all been retooled and are still covered
with the masons' tool marks, never having been rubbed
down ready for the draughtsman who preceded the
sculptor.
Xext the floor the sculptured stones are still in situ
up to the west end of the room. Above these the
faces of the stones are tooled only, and they vary very
much in size, some being twice as deep as others.
Above these and just under the spring of the curved
roof are many stones in their original places, as we can
tell by the sculpture with which they are adorned.
There can be little doubt that most of this wall-face
has been renewed, perhaps rebuilt in consequence of
dislocation, for it seems possible that most of the
stones tooled over have been reset in their original
positions.
That the wall needed much structural repair it
would be difficult to prove, for had this been the case
. ■ Jx Mltlf*
^hl,