Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

DEIR EL-BAHARI

EGYPT

RECONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE
VESTIBULE OF THE CHAPEL OF HATSHEPSUT

Edyta Kopp

The decorative program of the Vestibule of
Hatshepsut’s Chapel in the Royal Cult
Complex on the Upper Terrace of the
Temple of Hatshepsut has been studied
thoroughly enough, but ongoing research
continues to bring new information
(compare e.g. PM II2, 359 and PL XXXVI
[3] (89-93) to Karkowski 2001: 105 and
108). On all three walls: the southern one
being the wall bordering on the temple of
Tuthmosis III, the eastern one including
two niches, and the western one being the
facade of the chapel of Hatshepsut, the
procession of gods is the main motif,
dominating over the other, poorly preserved
decoration of the western end of the south
wall. Notwithstanding, this part of the
south wall showing the king’s image in three
scenes was of the greatest importance
because it was immediately visible to those
entering the complex.
The reconstruction of the Vestibule
presents a number of problems. The
original decoration has been obscured first
by intentional damages on two separate
occasions: on the order of Tuthmosis III
and then again by Echnaton’s followers and
the post-Amarna restoration. Still younger
hammerings of the gods’ figures, the
incomplete state of preservation and the
same scheme of decoration with

a procession of the gods on the walls
constitute additional obstacles. Further
investigation of the architecture and
decoration is necessary to resolve the
issue of the architrave arrangement
(cf. Karkowski 1983: 150, Fig. 8 on 151).
Finally, earlier reconstructions of some parts
of the wall have proved to be incorrect in
places.
Documentation of the architecture of
the Royal Cult Complex started in 1991
(Karkowski 1993: 70). Over seventy blocks
with decoration from the vestibule were
identified in 1993 (Pawlicki 1994: 90, and
Fig. 1), among them also those belonging
to the upper register of the south wall
shown in F. Pawlicki’s reconstruction
drawing: seven almost complete blocks1
presenting two royal figures in a shrine. In
the 1993/1994 season more blocks from
the upper register scene with “the Great
Ennead striding toward Tuthmosis I and
Hatshepsut (Tuthmosis II) seated inside
a palace” were recognized, along with
a niche in the lower register of the south
wall (Pawlicki 1995: 59). The facade of the
Chapel of Hatshepsut and part of the
opposite, east wall were documented.
Finally, a reconstruction proposal was
presented for the western part of the south
wall (Pawlicki 1995: 58, Fig. 2).

1 Current inventory numbers B.470, B.471, B.472, B.473, B.474, B.475. A block with the upper part of the body of the king
is now restored in the lower register scene, compare the main text above.

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Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007