DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4147#0037
30
DEIB El I'.AITAKi.
were bleached to the faint shadow of their former
brightness which we now see. When it was decided
that a protecting roof should be placed over them, it
was important to make use of such materials as in
themselves were without value, and would last for an
indefinite period. Under these conditions woodwork
in any form was not suitable. It was therefore settled
that crude brick in the form of tunnel vaults, such as
have stood for several thousand years at the Ramesseum,
should be used, as being the most lasting. Dislocated
columns were once more set straight, and thereby pre-
served. Displaced stones were collected, and once
more occupy their old positions, and where columns
were entirely gone piers in the old form were built, on
which architraves of crude brick carried by Vauterain
sleepers were j:>laced ; 0n these the brick roofs were
laid. It has resulted that such parts of the temple as
have been roofed over present to the eye, from a
distance, the same forms, the same masses of light and
shade, as they did when the colonnades were first set
up in the XVIIIth Dynasty : but there has not been
any effort or intention at restoration.
Plates CLXLX., CLXXIIL, CLXXIV. show a re-
storation of the temple, about the greater part of
which there can be no shadow of doubt.
The actual form of the pylon giving entrance
to the temple boundaries is uncertain. The way in
which the upper colonnade was treated in relation
to the granite doorway is also uncertain. A reason
has been given for thinking it improbable that the
colonnades were joined up and passed in front of
the doorway. The colonnades are therefore shown as
stopping on either side of the doorway, as they do in
later examples.
As regards the bird's-eye view given on plate
CLXIX., this has been prepared so that those who
find it difficult to grasp the meaning of architectural
elevations, and by technical drawings, may yet be able
to obtain some idea of the effect of the building when
it was complete. Absolute exactness has not been
aimed at or obtained. A bird's-eye view of the
temple was produced under the auspices of Mariette,
but it is unfortunately not based on fact. The ex-
cavations he carried out had by no means revealed the
whole of the plan.
M. Ch. Chipiez also prepared a bird's-eye view.1
' History of Ancient Egypt Art, vol. i. Georges Perrot and
Ch. Chipiez : Chapman and Hall, p. 423.
This is a still more surprising flight of a vivid imagina-
tion, and is incorrect in almost every possible respect.
It is not necessary, therefore, to offer any criticisms
upon it.
It should perhaps be stated, with regard to various
details shown in the bird's-eye view (Plate CLXIX.),
that the effort has been to introduce as little as
possible of the unknown. \t would have been se-
ductive, at any rate to the draughtsman, to show
statues, groves or avenues of trees, and other things
which may have, and some of which probably did.
form objects of interest in the temple when in its
highest degree of perfection : but no evidence is left us
as to where these things were placed within the pre-
cincts. As a matter of fact, this view pretends to be
no more than a sketch, and is. [ am sure, incorrect in
some details. It had to be prepared in Upper Egypt,
where I was not only cut off from opportunities of
reference, but where mechanical aids to drawing in
perspective were not to be had.
In many places upon the drawing, joint lines of
masonry are sketched in. We know for certain that
all the masonry was covered with fine gesso. Those
plain surfaces which were not sculptured and coloured
still bear witness to the fact that the masonry was
hidden. The building appeared as if it were made of
one vast dazzling stone, blinding in the glare of the
intense sunlight. A drawing in line alone cannot
represent such a building. It would not be possible
to convey to the reader an idea of the relation of the
various surfaces one to the other; I have therefore
ventured to depict the walls as they may have appeared
alter some years had passed over them.
It is possible that the first or eastern court may
have been paved all over its surface. It is equally
possible that it was not. Xo evidence of any pave-
ment was found.
In the case of the middle' court a low step runs
across it from north to south. West of this step there
are a few fragments of pavement. I have therefore
ventured to suppose that these parts of the court were
paved. Eastward of the step no evidences of pave-
ment were found.
Over the east or lower colonnade I have shown
pavement. This I have done based on the evidences
still existing over the colonnade of the Northern
Speos. In the case of this speos the roof slabs, which
are all perfoct, were covered with a pavement of stones
of irregular shape. By this means all the joints were
DEIB El I'.AITAKi.
were bleached to the faint shadow of their former
brightness which we now see. When it was decided
that a protecting roof should be placed over them, it
was important to make use of such materials as in
themselves were without value, and would last for an
indefinite period. Under these conditions woodwork
in any form was not suitable. It was therefore settled
that crude brick in the form of tunnel vaults, such as
have stood for several thousand years at the Ramesseum,
should be used, as being the most lasting. Dislocated
columns were once more set straight, and thereby pre-
served. Displaced stones were collected, and once
more occupy their old positions, and where columns
were entirely gone piers in the old form were built, on
which architraves of crude brick carried by Vauterain
sleepers were j:>laced ; 0n these the brick roofs were
laid. It has resulted that such parts of the temple as
have been roofed over present to the eye, from a
distance, the same forms, the same masses of light and
shade, as they did when the colonnades were first set
up in the XVIIIth Dynasty : but there has not been
any effort or intention at restoration.
Plates CLXLX., CLXXIIL, CLXXIV. show a re-
storation of the temple, about the greater part of
which there can be no shadow of doubt.
The actual form of the pylon giving entrance
to the temple boundaries is uncertain. The way in
which the upper colonnade was treated in relation
to the granite doorway is also uncertain. A reason
has been given for thinking it improbable that the
colonnades were joined up and passed in front of
the doorway. The colonnades are therefore shown as
stopping on either side of the doorway, as they do in
later examples.
As regards the bird's-eye view given on plate
CLXIX., this has been prepared so that those who
find it difficult to grasp the meaning of architectural
elevations, and by technical drawings, may yet be able
to obtain some idea of the effect of the building when
it was complete. Absolute exactness has not been
aimed at or obtained. A bird's-eye view of the
temple was produced under the auspices of Mariette,
but it is unfortunately not based on fact. The ex-
cavations he carried out had by no means revealed the
whole of the plan.
M. Ch. Chipiez also prepared a bird's-eye view.1
' History of Ancient Egypt Art, vol. i. Georges Perrot and
Ch. Chipiez : Chapman and Hall, p. 423.
This is a still more surprising flight of a vivid imagina-
tion, and is incorrect in almost every possible respect.
It is not necessary, therefore, to offer any criticisms
upon it.
It should perhaps be stated, with regard to various
details shown in the bird's-eye view (Plate CLXIX.),
that the effort has been to introduce as little as
possible of the unknown. \t would have been se-
ductive, at any rate to the draughtsman, to show
statues, groves or avenues of trees, and other things
which may have, and some of which probably did.
form objects of interest in the temple when in its
highest degree of perfection : but no evidence is left us
as to where these things were placed within the pre-
cincts. As a matter of fact, this view pretends to be
no more than a sketch, and is. [ am sure, incorrect in
some details. It had to be prepared in Upper Egypt,
where I was not only cut off from opportunities of
reference, but where mechanical aids to drawing in
perspective were not to be had.
In many places upon the drawing, joint lines of
masonry are sketched in. We know for certain that
all the masonry was covered with fine gesso. Those
plain surfaces which were not sculptured and coloured
still bear witness to the fact that the masonry was
hidden. The building appeared as if it were made of
one vast dazzling stone, blinding in the glare of the
intense sunlight. A drawing in line alone cannot
represent such a building. It would not be possible
to convey to the reader an idea of the relation of the
various surfaces one to the other; I have therefore
ventured to depict the walls as they may have appeared
alter some years had passed over them.
It is possible that the first or eastern court may
have been paved all over its surface. It is equally
possible that it was not. Xo evidence of any pave-
ment was found.
In the case of the middle' court a low step runs
across it from north to south. West of this step there
are a few fragments of pavement. I have therefore
ventured to suppose that these parts of the court were
paved. Eastward of the step no evidences of pave-
ment were found.
Over the east or lower colonnade I have shown
pavement. This I have done based on the evidences
still existing over the colonnade of the Northern
Speos. In the case of this speos the roof slabs, which
are all perfoct, were covered with a pavement of stones
of irregular shape. By this means all the joints were