Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (11.1999(2000))

DEIR EL-BAHARI

EGYPT

were sculpted in mortar made of powdered
limestone, sand and white cement and cov-
ered with a final coat similar in color to the
original fragments (Fig. 6).
The decision to remove the undecorat-
ed blocks that had been introduced in the
Ptolemaic Period in the bottom register of
the northeastern corner of the wall in the
Hall of the Bark led to the discovery of
some original decorated blocks. One of
these belongs to a representation of
Tuthmosis III. With this fragment in
place, twelve others could be re-intro-
duced into this section of the northern
wall (Fig. 7).
A thick layer of soot and dirt was
removed from the walls of the southern
and northern chapels of the sanctuary.
Flaking and detached parts of the poly-
chromy and plaster were re-attached and
consolidated. Empty blisters and air pock-

ets were filled in with filler and mineral
putties. All the reliefs (except for the east-
ern wall of the southern chapel) were
cleaned and traced on transparent plastic
film, the drawings subsequently reduced
to a scale of 1:5.
On the rear wall of the northern chapel,
a representation of small figures of
Hatshepsut kneeling in front of two
enthroned gods, Amun and Atum, became
visible. The reverse composition (figures of
Amun flanking a large cartouche of
Hatshepsut) is located on the tympanum
above the entrance to the chapel. It may
suggest that the position of the queen was
considered equal to that of the god. The
iconography of the remaining walls is typi-
cal. However, a multiplication of images of
Atum and Montu should be noted, in view
of the lesser than expected number of repre-
sentations of Amun-Re.


Fig. 8. Newly discovered decorated blocks attributed to the offering-chapel of the Main Sanctuary
(Photo W. Jerke)

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