DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Pawlicki, Franciszek: Hatshepsut temple: conservation and preservation project 1995/1996
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41241#0063
Royal Cult Chapels. The decoration above the entrance to the
undecorated room is composed of the typical scene representing
the king kneeling in a kiosk in front of the gods Amun, Iwnmutef,
Thoth and the representation of souls Pe and Nekhen. The missing
parts of the original wall were re-erected in red-brick, then covered
with artificial slabs and aesthetic plaster.
As a result of studies undertaken by the Epigraphic Mission4
several original blocks have been attributed to the northern wall of
the Re-Horakhty vestibule. The said wall was previously partly
restored by a team from the Service des Antiquites directed by
E. Baraize. Missing elements were restored in new limestone
blocks, while joints or losses were filled in with gypsum. The front
slab of the niche ceiling was missing and the Esna-shale rock
behind it was strongly eroded. Because all the gypsum fills have
undergone heavy disintegration after the recent rainfall and the
original elements required full conservation treatment, it was
decided to dismantle the previous restoration and to rebuild this
section again, all the more since there were some inaccuracies in
the reconstruction of the king's figure. The bottommost courses
were left untouched despite some bulges caused previously by the
pressure of eroded Esna-shale rock.5
Almost fifty original blocks have been attributed to the wall
and its decoration was restored (Fig. 1). It presents the scene of
offering incense to the god Atum by Tuthmosis III. Course by
course, the wall was re-erected to its original dimensions. Missing
elements were replaced in red-brick. The restoration of the eastern
corner will facilitate the attribution of blocks to the upper register
4 The mission directed by Dr. Janusz Karkowski delivered the preliminary
project of the restoration of the northern wall, which was subsequently revised,
completed and technically prepared by the preservation team.
The disintegrated rocks were removed from the area behind the wall and
the protective supporting wall was built, leaving empty space between the wall
and the slope of the mountain.
61
undecorated room is composed of the typical scene representing
the king kneeling in a kiosk in front of the gods Amun, Iwnmutef,
Thoth and the representation of souls Pe and Nekhen. The missing
parts of the original wall were re-erected in red-brick, then covered
with artificial slabs and aesthetic plaster.
As a result of studies undertaken by the Epigraphic Mission4
several original blocks have been attributed to the northern wall of
the Re-Horakhty vestibule. The said wall was previously partly
restored by a team from the Service des Antiquites directed by
E. Baraize. Missing elements were restored in new limestone
blocks, while joints or losses were filled in with gypsum. The front
slab of the niche ceiling was missing and the Esna-shale rock
behind it was strongly eroded. Because all the gypsum fills have
undergone heavy disintegration after the recent rainfall and the
original elements required full conservation treatment, it was
decided to dismantle the previous restoration and to rebuild this
section again, all the more since there were some inaccuracies in
the reconstruction of the king's figure. The bottommost courses
were left untouched despite some bulges caused previously by the
pressure of eroded Esna-shale rock.5
Almost fifty original blocks have been attributed to the wall
and its decoration was restored (Fig. 1). It presents the scene of
offering incense to the god Atum by Tuthmosis III. Course by
course, the wall was re-erected to its original dimensions. Missing
elements were replaced in red-brick. The restoration of the eastern
corner will facilitate the attribution of blocks to the upper register
4 The mission directed by Dr. Janusz Karkowski delivered the preliminary
project of the restoration of the northern wall, which was subsequently revised,
completed and technically prepared by the preservation team.
The disintegrated rocks were removed from the area behind the wall and
the protective supporting wall was built, leaving empty space between the wall
and the slope of the mountain.
61