DEBR EL-BAHARI
THE EPIGRAPHIC MISSION
TO THE HATSHEPSUT TEMPLE, 1994
by Janusz Karkowski
The epigraphic program of the mission' centered on the
wail with the niches. The wall constitutes a monumental faęade of
the main sanctuary of Amun. Apparently, the niches served as
shrines of the royal cult. This is shown clearly in the decoration.
The Osiride statues of Hatshepsut in the taller niches depicted the
queen as an eternal ruler. On the side walls pairs of gods of the
Ennead granted favours to the queen. The smaller niches were
provided with double doors. The side walls constitute a sort of
abbreviated version of the side walls in the offering halls of
Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis I in the royal complex of the upper
terrace. They show the queen and the male members of the royal
family enthroned at the offering table, addressed by Iunmutef of
Thot who recite the /y/p-dfz'-fuw formula. These scenes always
include the offering list. Since the pavement of the smaller niches
shows no traces of a permanent setting of the stone statues, what
' Members of the Mission: Dr. Janusz Karkowski (director) - egyptologist,
Mr. Bolesław Kobiełski - architect, Mr. Marek Kłaczyński - topographer,
Miss Justyna Konopka - artist, Mr. Sławomir Rzepka and Mr. Piotr Szpanowski
- students of archaeołogy, Miss Katherine Spence - architect and student of
Egyptology, and Miss Anna Szymańska - student of Egyptołogy.
For a short period the mission was joined by Dr. Nathahe Beaux and
Prof. Andrzej Niwiński. The Antiquities Organization dełegated Dr. Tałaat Abd
eł Aziz to act as the inspector of the mission. During his absence the mission
was ałso aided by Mohammed eł-Biały, the Chief Inspector of the Centrał Sector
of the West Bank and by other Egyptian colleagues as weli. The mission could
always count on the help of Dr. Mohammed el-Sughaier, Director of Pharaonic
Antiquities of Upper Egypt as well as of Mr. Sabri Abd el-Aziz, the Director of
the West Bank.
48
THE EPIGRAPHIC MISSION
TO THE HATSHEPSUT TEMPLE, 1994
by Janusz Karkowski
The epigraphic program of the mission' centered on the
wail with the niches. The wall constitutes a monumental faęade of
the main sanctuary of Amun. Apparently, the niches served as
shrines of the royal cult. This is shown clearly in the decoration.
The Osiride statues of Hatshepsut in the taller niches depicted the
queen as an eternal ruler. On the side walls pairs of gods of the
Ennead granted favours to the queen. The smaller niches were
provided with double doors. The side walls constitute a sort of
abbreviated version of the side walls in the offering halls of
Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis I in the royal complex of the upper
terrace. They show the queen and the male members of the royal
family enthroned at the offering table, addressed by Iunmutef of
Thot who recite the /y/p-dfz'-fuw formula. These scenes always
include the offering list. Since the pavement of the smaller niches
shows no traces of a permanent setting of the stone statues, what
' Members of the Mission: Dr. Janusz Karkowski (director) - egyptologist,
Mr. Bolesław Kobiełski - architect, Mr. Marek Kłaczyński - topographer,
Miss Justyna Konopka - artist, Mr. Sławomir Rzepka and Mr. Piotr Szpanowski
- students of archaeołogy, Miss Katherine Spence - architect and student of
Egyptology, and Miss Anna Szymańska - student of Egyptołogy.
For a short period the mission was joined by Dr. Nathahe Beaux and
Prof. Andrzej Niwiński. The Antiquities Organization dełegated Dr. Tałaat Abd
eł Aziz to act as the inspector of the mission. During his absence the mission
was ałso aided by Mohammed eł-Biały, the Chief Inspector of the Centrał Sector
of the West Bank and by other Egyptian colleagues as weli. The mission could
always count on the help of Dr. Mohammed el-Sughaier, Director of Pharaonic
Antiquities of Upper Egypt as well as of Mr. Sabri Abd el-Aziz, the Director of
the West Bank.
48