DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3236#0011
TANIS.
11
since the legs on the adjoining side, 110 a, are on
a curved surface which would not be exposed, and
could notwell be built up, and that sidewould there-
fore have been entirely dressed away if existing in
Eaniesside times. The dressing down of the face
110 a to build it in must be due to Sheshonk III.,
when he used this block, filling up the bull
hieroglyph with mortar in laying it. The legs,
therefore, which remain from a group of the
two Niles, on 110 a, must belong to some work
between Eamessu II. and Sheshonk III. Now
Siamen did not execute large work, nor generally
good work, to judge by the examples we have
here, some of which are wretched; and yet there
does not seem to be any other king to whom this
can be ascribed. The sculpture being on a curved
. surface is very peculiar, and there is, perhaps, no
similar instance of a large group on a curve. The
fragments of inscriptions on various granite blocks
(Nos. 119 to 135) are a selection from the many
remains of the temple buildings; the blocks which
only bore isolated signs, or some of the innumerable
fragments of cartouches or titles of Bamessu, could
be of no importance, except in an attempt at
restoring the plans of the buildings ; and such a
task seems quite hopeless when such a small
proportion of the material is left. No. 122 has a
fragment of early inscription on it, already given
as No. 24. No. 124 has an unusual arrangement
of the sam and lotus. Nos. 123 and 127, with
the pieces mentioned on the plate, show at least
four Eamesside lintels, as the heights preclude our
supposing any to belong together, except perhaps
the first two pieces mentioned, Nos. 124 and 129
on the plan. Inscription 129 is an instance of
almost complete erasure in later times. No. 130
has part of a group of Eamessu fighting, accom-
panied by his lion, as at Abu Simbel. No. 132
is a portion of Eamesside inscription on the under-
side of the south of the pair of bases of columns
placed by Siamen in front of the sanctuary; this
shows that Siamen did not merely inscribe existing
bases, but had cut these out of ruined blocks of
the buildings of Eamessu.
4. Merenptah placed two fine statues of himself
in the temple here (inscrs. 136, 137), one of grey,
the other of pink granite. Both are now broken
in two, and have lost the feet; but they are in fair
condition, and worth preserving. The inscriptions
are given in Nos. 136 and 137; and the many
appropriations by Merenptah will be found before
in Part L, Nos. 3, 4, 5, 8, 14,15, 25, 26, 27, 28,
and 29. Apiece of his work in limestone, No.
138 (Plan, 226), was used by Siamen in founding
the colonnade in front of the sanctuary; while
two other blocks, Nos. 139 and 140, show that
he also worked here in granite. Seti II. has
one block of his work remaining, No. 141. Of
Eamessu III. are two kneeling statues, one bearing
a table of offerings (inscr. 142) carved in sand-
stone ; this has unfortunately lost the upper part
of the figure. The other statue (inscr. 143) is
in dark grey granite, and is much weathered; but
the shrine it holds still clearly contains figures of
Ptah and Sekhet hand in hand. There remains
one conspicuous block of the Eamesside period
(No. 144) which is hard to attribute. By the
inscription 144 b alone it would be at once
supposed to belong to Eamessu II.; but on the
adjacent side is a plainly Eamesside inscription
144 a, and this side is evidently the first cut, as
it is much better work, and has had dovetailed
cramp-holes made in its ends when used afterwards.
Either, then, Eamessu II. broke up his own work,
and had the pieces sculptured in a very inferior
style, on a rough and irregularly curved surface,
or else these must belong to a later Eamesside
king, perhaps the twelfth. The inscription 88
(Plan, 262) is strikingly like this, but on a smaller
scale; and the lower part of a somewhat similar
arrangement remains at Abydos, only there the ra
is placed immediately over the sotep as usual, and
not—as here—to be read into place from the top.
This would seem to show that the re-use of this
block is due to Bamessu II. himself.
5. PI. viii contains all that can be attributed to
Siamen at San, beside the appropriations given
b2
11
since the legs on the adjoining side, 110 a, are on
a curved surface which would not be exposed, and
could notwell be built up, and that sidewould there-
fore have been entirely dressed away if existing in
Eaniesside times. The dressing down of the face
110 a to build it in must be due to Sheshonk III.,
when he used this block, filling up the bull
hieroglyph with mortar in laying it. The legs,
therefore, which remain from a group of the
two Niles, on 110 a, must belong to some work
between Eamessu II. and Sheshonk III. Now
Siamen did not execute large work, nor generally
good work, to judge by the examples we have
here, some of which are wretched; and yet there
does not seem to be any other king to whom this
can be ascribed. The sculpture being on a curved
. surface is very peculiar, and there is, perhaps, no
similar instance of a large group on a curve. The
fragments of inscriptions on various granite blocks
(Nos. 119 to 135) are a selection from the many
remains of the temple buildings; the blocks which
only bore isolated signs, or some of the innumerable
fragments of cartouches or titles of Bamessu, could
be of no importance, except in an attempt at
restoring the plans of the buildings ; and such a
task seems quite hopeless when such a small
proportion of the material is left. No. 122 has a
fragment of early inscription on it, already given
as No. 24. No. 124 has an unusual arrangement
of the sam and lotus. Nos. 123 and 127, with
the pieces mentioned on the plate, show at least
four Eamesside lintels, as the heights preclude our
supposing any to belong together, except perhaps
the first two pieces mentioned, Nos. 124 and 129
on the plan. Inscription 129 is an instance of
almost complete erasure in later times. No. 130
has part of a group of Eamessu fighting, accom-
panied by his lion, as at Abu Simbel. No. 132
is a portion of Eamesside inscription on the under-
side of the south of the pair of bases of columns
placed by Siamen in front of the sanctuary; this
shows that Siamen did not merely inscribe existing
bases, but had cut these out of ruined blocks of
the buildings of Eamessu.
4. Merenptah placed two fine statues of himself
in the temple here (inscrs. 136, 137), one of grey,
the other of pink granite. Both are now broken
in two, and have lost the feet; but they are in fair
condition, and worth preserving. The inscriptions
are given in Nos. 136 and 137; and the many
appropriations by Merenptah will be found before
in Part L, Nos. 3, 4, 5, 8, 14,15, 25, 26, 27, 28,
and 29. Apiece of his work in limestone, No.
138 (Plan, 226), was used by Siamen in founding
the colonnade in front of the sanctuary; while
two other blocks, Nos. 139 and 140, show that
he also worked here in granite. Seti II. has
one block of his work remaining, No. 141. Of
Eamessu III. are two kneeling statues, one bearing
a table of offerings (inscr. 142) carved in sand-
stone ; this has unfortunately lost the upper part
of the figure. The other statue (inscr. 143) is
in dark grey granite, and is much weathered; but
the shrine it holds still clearly contains figures of
Ptah and Sekhet hand in hand. There remains
one conspicuous block of the Eamesside period
(No. 144) which is hard to attribute. By the
inscription 144 b alone it would be at once
supposed to belong to Eamessu II.; but on the
adjacent side is a plainly Eamesside inscription
144 a, and this side is evidently the first cut, as
it is much better work, and has had dovetailed
cramp-holes made in its ends when used afterwards.
Either, then, Eamessu II. broke up his own work,
and had the pieces sculptured in a very inferior
style, on a rough and irregularly curved surface,
or else these must belong to a later Eamesside
king, perhaps the twelfth. The inscription 88
(Plan, 262) is strikingly like this, but on a smaller
scale; and the lower part of a somewhat similar
arrangement remains at Abydos, only there the ra
is placed immediately over the sotep as usual, and
not—as here—to be read into place from the top.
This would seem to show that the re-use of this
block is due to Bamessu II. himself.
5. PI. viii contains all that can be attributed to
Siamen at San, beside the appropriations given
b2