DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4669#0265
KHNOUM, THE RAM-HEADED DIVINITY 235
duccd greater elegance of form in the development
of original Egyptian ideas; the same flowers and
plants appear, but the execution is more graceful,
and the details more varied. Each capital differs
from its companion, and the greatest variety exists
in the designs and treatment of the subject. The
reverse of this applies to the sculptured figures,
which are less elegant. A flight of temporary
wooden steps leads down between the two central
loft)' columns into the middle of the hall, the only
part at present accessible, which was cleared by
order of Mehemet Ali in 1842. It contains twenty-
four columns. The sanctuary and the surrounding
chambers are still buried in the debris of mud-huts
and houses which cover the roof, and thus give the
town the appearance of having been built upon a
hill. The ceiling is painted with astronomical
designs, in which the Zodiac occurs. This temple
faced north-east. On either side of the central door-
way are small cabinets, in one of which the king
performed the ablutions before entering into the
presence of the divinity of the temple, the other was
"the Library," in which the sacred rituals, books of
the temple, and rolls of papyri were preserved.
.Amongst the figures sculptured on the walls ol
this hall, which are as completely covered with them
as those of l)endcrah, is a representation of the god
Khnum, Khnoum, or Kneph. as a ram with the asp
or ITaeus between his horns, probably implying his
kingship of the gods, as he was considered in Roman
times to be identical with Jupiter. This god was
recognised at a very earl)- period as the chief divinity
of the South. He also appears in connection with
Ra, and may in later times have been regarded as
duccd greater elegance of form in the development
of original Egyptian ideas; the same flowers and
plants appear, but the execution is more graceful,
and the details more varied. Each capital differs
from its companion, and the greatest variety exists
in the designs and treatment of the subject. The
reverse of this applies to the sculptured figures,
which are less elegant. A flight of temporary
wooden steps leads down between the two central
loft)' columns into the middle of the hall, the only
part at present accessible, which was cleared by
order of Mehemet Ali in 1842. It contains twenty-
four columns. The sanctuary and the surrounding
chambers are still buried in the debris of mud-huts
and houses which cover the roof, and thus give the
town the appearance of having been built upon a
hill. The ceiling is painted with astronomical
designs, in which the Zodiac occurs. This temple
faced north-east. On either side of the central door-
way are small cabinets, in one of which the king
performed the ablutions before entering into the
presence of the divinity of the temple, the other was
"the Library," in which the sacred rituals, books of
the temple, and rolls of papyri were preserved.
.Amongst the figures sculptured on the walls ol
this hall, which are as completely covered with them
as those of l)endcrah, is a representation of the god
Khnum, Khnoum, or Kneph. as a ram with the asp
or ITaeus between his horns, probably implying his
kingship of the gods, as he was considered in Roman
times to be identical with Jupiter. This god was
recognised at a very earl)- period as the chief divinity
of the South. He also appears in connection with
Ra, and may in later times have been regarded as