DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4669#0432
PALACE AND TEMPLE
397
portion remains, surrounded the palace on three
sides. The palace formed a large square block.
The entire surface of the walls both inside and out
are, as usual, covered with scenes deeply cut in the
stone ; the interior illustrates the domestic and the
exterior the public events of the reign of Rameses
III. On the outer wall he is represented of gigantic
proportions, in the act of slaying his enemies, whom
" Amen-Ra has delivered into his hand "; they
belong to various " nations, peoples, and languages."
Professor W. F. Petrie has said that "to walk
round Thebes with open eyes is to make the grand
tour of the Ancient World ; to see and to know all
the many peoples that have lived from Central Asia
to Greece, and from the shores of the Mediterranean
to the Syrian Deserts." * All who study his " Racial
Portraits," f which include those on the walls of
Karnak and of Medenet-Abou, will feel the truth
of his statement. Rameses III. has immortalised
upon the walls with wonderful skill and accuracy the
features of his conquered foes, with full accompanying
descriptions.
The style of architecture in the palace differs from
that of the temple, more particularly in the large
square windows. Beneath the window sills the heads
of prisoners are carved. The same idea is carried
out in other stone brackets upon the walls, which
may have supported a wooden balcony. A very
remarkable one * represents the King of Egypt
seated upon a throne, and having beneath his feet in
a double row the heads of prostrate enemies, thus
* Harper's Magazine, July, 188S.
| Petrie, " Racial Types from Egypt," [887; Hannan, Bromley,
Kent. J "Ancient Egyptians," vol. iii. p. 403.
397
portion remains, surrounded the palace on three
sides. The palace formed a large square block.
The entire surface of the walls both inside and out
are, as usual, covered with scenes deeply cut in the
stone ; the interior illustrates the domestic and the
exterior the public events of the reign of Rameses
III. On the outer wall he is represented of gigantic
proportions, in the act of slaying his enemies, whom
" Amen-Ra has delivered into his hand "; they
belong to various " nations, peoples, and languages."
Professor W. F. Petrie has said that "to walk
round Thebes with open eyes is to make the grand
tour of the Ancient World ; to see and to know all
the many peoples that have lived from Central Asia
to Greece, and from the shores of the Mediterranean
to the Syrian Deserts." * All who study his " Racial
Portraits," f which include those on the walls of
Karnak and of Medenet-Abou, will feel the truth
of his statement. Rameses III. has immortalised
upon the walls with wonderful skill and accuracy the
features of his conquered foes, with full accompanying
descriptions.
The style of architecture in the palace differs from
that of the temple, more particularly in the large
square windows. Beneath the window sills the heads
of prisoners are carved. The same idea is carried
out in other stone brackets upon the walls, which
may have supported a wooden balcony. A very
remarkable one * represents the King of Egypt
seated upon a throne, and having beneath his feet in
a double row the heads of prostrate enemies, thus
* Harper's Magazine, July, 188S.
| Petrie, " Racial Types from Egypt," [887; Hannan, Bromley,
Kent. J "Ancient Egyptians," vol. iii. p. 403.