DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3350#0016
THE SCULPTURED PYLON
if we look closely at the profile of the ruler in these
scenes we shall see that it is exactly that of Sen-
usert I, as shewn in his statues, when we remember
that this is a young portrait and those are old. I can
but conclude therefore that this pylon is of the early
part of the Xllth dynasty, and probably represents the
investiture of Senusert I in the twentieth year of the
reign of his father Amenemhat I.
13. We must now deal with the evidences for
the arrangement of the blocks and scenes as here
published ; those readers who only wish for the results
are advised to proceed to the next chapter.
To begin with it is clear that there are six scenes.
Looking at the right-hand edges of the scenes (PI. IX)
it is found to be impossible to put any figures into
Pis. Ill to VI; and the figures of VIII could not be
pressed into VII. There are also five back hands of
the king, shewing a minimum of six scenes. But there
is nothing which necessitates eight scenes. Next,
these scenes have always a smooth edge behind the
king's figure, and a rough iedge before the king;
the smooth edge being the corner of the entrance, the
rough edge having been built in to the mass of the
brick pylon. These edges prove the right and left
arrangement, and shew that the king's figure was
always placed as coming out from the gate. This being
fixed we see that all three of the right-hand figures
have the crown of Lower Egypt. Of the left-hand
figures, the bottom one has the crown of the south,
and the same crown is necessary in the two other
figures of this side, as the other crown would come
into contact with the hawk. Hence the crowns were
uniform on each of the sides. The blocks of limestone,
of which the scenes were built, vary between 26'8
and 3C9 inches thick, except two courses of 217,
2r8, at the top of PL VI. No vertical joints were
found, hence the blocks were usually about 80 x 30
inches on the face. Yet there are some difficulties
which oblige us to assume vertical joints in Pis. Ill,
IV, rather than assume two additional scenes for
which there is no warrant in the sculpture. We now
turn to the separate subjects.
14. PI. III. The left side is certainly the top of the
pylon, as the stone runs on blank, and with unfinished
edge, 3^ inches above the stars. The stars also are
much larger than elsewhere, and therefore were placed
the highest. PI. IV could not be brought up, and these
figures put into it, as there is not width enough in IV
in front of the jackal standard. The right side must
belong here, as there is continuity in the two other
scenes lowej down this side. The figure of the king
is fixed by the back, shoulder, arm, and leg. The
vulture being completed, there remains only just
enough space for the shortest of the jackal standards.
That being put in, the other standard must have been
before it, or there would be no space for the king's
staff. The unexpected feature is the deep band of
stars below the left side, and the continuity without
any horizontal joint up the whole of the left side, the
slab of which was 69 inches high before it was broken ;
whereas on the right side are joints through the
middle of the sa sign and the middle of the kfierp aha
figure. As we have shewn that it is impossible to
place these figures of either side in any other scene,
we must accept this change of jointing. But it is
still a difficulty to assign a reason for so deep a band
of stars in the middle of a side. (Liverpool Museum.)
15. PI. IV. The block on the left could not'be put
into the see nes above or below this ; and its level is
proved by its bottom joint. The lower part of the
king's figure, two officials behind him, one man before
him, and a corner of a shrine, are all continuous, so
that this part is beyond question. And the joint
running through at the base of heb leaves the feet
connected to the scene below, the relation of which
is therefore certain. The less clear points are the
relations of the palanquin and suten mes block, and
the hawk and vulture block. The suten mes block
has a smooth right-hand edge, shewing that it must
come down this side of the gateway. There is no
other place possible for it but here. The hawk and
vulture block with the tip of the flying vulture's wing
and two standards, cannot go in PI. Ill by the space
to the left of the standard, nor in PI. V which is
complete in that part. Its place here is fixed by the
lower ends of the standards and the usual height of
the flying vulture. The top of the jackal is separate,
and might belong to the scene above. Two fragments
of the lower wing of the vulture must be left-handed,
and cannot go in either of the other scenes. The tips
of two ua signs are connected with the palanquin, and
the tips of a res sign. These indicate the name " Up-
uati of the south " for which there is just room. Here
again is another puzzle in the jointing. While there
is a joint at the king's waist, (the upper end of the
continuous outlines), there is no other joint possible
in the blocks above as far as the middle of the jackal's
legs, that is, for 44 inches; and as a joint occurs at
57 inches up, it is almost certain that there was a
double course of this height. If there were any other
evidence for a fourth register with abnormal jointing,
yet we could not place this deep stone along with the
if we look closely at the profile of the ruler in these
scenes we shall see that it is exactly that of Sen-
usert I, as shewn in his statues, when we remember
that this is a young portrait and those are old. I can
but conclude therefore that this pylon is of the early
part of the Xllth dynasty, and probably represents the
investiture of Senusert I in the twentieth year of the
reign of his father Amenemhat I.
13. We must now deal with the evidences for
the arrangement of the blocks and scenes as here
published ; those readers who only wish for the results
are advised to proceed to the next chapter.
To begin with it is clear that there are six scenes.
Looking at the right-hand edges of the scenes (PI. IX)
it is found to be impossible to put any figures into
Pis. Ill to VI; and the figures of VIII could not be
pressed into VII. There are also five back hands of
the king, shewing a minimum of six scenes. But there
is nothing which necessitates eight scenes. Next,
these scenes have always a smooth edge behind the
king's figure, and a rough iedge before the king;
the smooth edge being the corner of the entrance, the
rough edge having been built in to the mass of the
brick pylon. These edges prove the right and left
arrangement, and shew that the king's figure was
always placed as coming out from the gate. This being
fixed we see that all three of the right-hand figures
have the crown of Lower Egypt. Of the left-hand
figures, the bottom one has the crown of the south,
and the same crown is necessary in the two other
figures of this side, as the other crown would come
into contact with the hawk. Hence the crowns were
uniform on each of the sides. The blocks of limestone,
of which the scenes were built, vary between 26'8
and 3C9 inches thick, except two courses of 217,
2r8, at the top of PL VI. No vertical joints were
found, hence the blocks were usually about 80 x 30
inches on the face. Yet there are some difficulties
which oblige us to assume vertical joints in Pis. Ill,
IV, rather than assume two additional scenes for
which there is no warrant in the sculpture. We now
turn to the separate subjects.
14. PI. III. The left side is certainly the top of the
pylon, as the stone runs on blank, and with unfinished
edge, 3^ inches above the stars. The stars also are
much larger than elsewhere, and therefore were placed
the highest. PI. IV could not be brought up, and these
figures put into it, as there is not width enough in IV
in front of the jackal standard. The right side must
belong here, as there is continuity in the two other
scenes lowej down this side. The figure of the king
is fixed by the back, shoulder, arm, and leg. The
vulture being completed, there remains only just
enough space for the shortest of the jackal standards.
That being put in, the other standard must have been
before it, or there would be no space for the king's
staff. The unexpected feature is the deep band of
stars below the left side, and the continuity without
any horizontal joint up the whole of the left side, the
slab of which was 69 inches high before it was broken ;
whereas on the right side are joints through the
middle of the sa sign and the middle of the kfierp aha
figure. As we have shewn that it is impossible to
place these figures of either side in any other scene,
we must accept this change of jointing. But it is
still a difficulty to assign a reason for so deep a band
of stars in the middle of a side. (Liverpool Museum.)
15. PI. IV. The block on the left could not'be put
into the see nes above or below this ; and its level is
proved by its bottom joint. The lower part of the
king's figure, two officials behind him, one man before
him, and a corner of a shrine, are all continuous, so
that this part is beyond question. And the joint
running through at the base of heb leaves the feet
connected to the scene below, the relation of which
is therefore certain. The less clear points are the
relations of the palanquin and suten mes block, and
the hawk and vulture block. The suten mes block
has a smooth right-hand edge, shewing that it must
come down this side of the gateway. There is no
other place possible for it but here. The hawk and
vulture block with the tip of the flying vulture's wing
and two standards, cannot go in PI. Ill by the space
to the left of the standard, nor in PI. V which is
complete in that part. Its place here is fixed by the
lower ends of the standards and the usual height of
the flying vulture. The top of the jackal is separate,
and might belong to the scene above. Two fragments
of the lower wing of the vulture must be left-handed,
and cannot go in either of the other scenes. The tips
of two ua signs are connected with the palanquin, and
the tips of a res sign. These indicate the name " Up-
uati of the south " for which there is just room. Here
again is another puzzle in the jointing. While there
is a joint at the king's waist, (the upper end of the
continuous outlines), there is no other joint possible
in the blocks above as far as the middle of the jackal's
legs, that is, for 44 inches; and as a joint occurs at
57 inches up, it is almost certain that there was a
double course of this height. If there were any other
evidence for a fourth register with abnormal jointing,
yet we could not place this deep stone along with the