DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4664#0013
8
THE TEMENOS AREA.
The pillars, too, seem to belong to this second period
rather than to the first.
At certain places, rude pillars, or perhaps statues,
were set up, the bases of which are described below.
By the second or third dynasty this primitive
temple had been encroached upon and heaped round
by habitations of this period, leaving the mound
rising above the new accumulation.
It is to this second period that the objects found
by Mr. Quibell would seem to belong.
Limestone Pillars.
20. Close, and evidently related in some way, to
the row of stones, are two rough limestone pillars (see
plan and Pl. LXV.) standing in the same archaic
stratum on which the long rows are laid. The one
figured on the upper part of the plate is the larger.
Its base rests in clean sand just below the level of the
charcoal-discoloured stratum. Near the base are
some rough angular blocks of Nubian sandstone,
which form a sort of socket for the pillar. These
blocks are on nearly the same level as the ground on
which the parallel rows of stones are laid.
Among the interstices of these socket stones
fragments of coarse red, and polished red, prehistoric
pottery were found.
The upper part of the pillar has been broken off
exhibiting a conchoidal fracture ; the top is now 2 • 6
metres below datum level, and level with a stratum
of clean white sand io or 20 cm. thick which is
probably the sand bed for the foundations of the
later crude brick buildings.
On the S.E. side of the pillar 55 cm. from the top,
is a mark that may have been produced by abrasion
such as may be seen on ancient buildings like the
temple of Edfu, or may have been produced by a
blow from an axe, or other sharp instrument, the cut
produced having been altered by the action of the
surrounding damp soil.
Another somewhat smaller limestone pillar was
found further to the S.W. (see PL. LXV. the upper
of the two drawings). The base was sunk less deeply
than the other pillar. Three rough sandstone blocks
formed a socket, at nearly the same level as the other.
Close by, in the stratum in which its base rests, a
fragment of prehistoric pottery decorated with red
wavy lines, was found. The top of this pillar also,
had been broken off, the top is now 2 ■ 5 metres below
datum line which is practically the same depth as the
other.
Two other pillars were found in the previous year
by Mr. Quibell. One was situated close to the
revetted passage that projects from the south face of
the circular Revetment, and another below the bases of
the sandstone columns that occupy the space near the
temple well.
It may be that these pillars are the lower portions
of rude statues, such as were found by Professor
Petrie at Kuft, and at the northern gateway of the
town during the present excavations.
On the plan and sections all early work is shown in
black.
Though the section was made along the lines
marked on the plan, nevertheless all archaic stone-
work is shown even if it be behind the plane of the
section, in which case the section may be regarded as
an elevation. The brick walls which are later have
not been so treated.
CHAPTER III.
the temenos area.
West Angle.
21. THE western angle of the temple enclosure is
occupied by a number of native houses ; these it was
not deemed expedient to pull down for the sake
of the rough stone-work, as nothing else (except
pottery, and a few New Kingdom scarabs of very
poor quality) was found in this quarter of the temple.
A small doll of dark-coloured baked clay was
found here, level with, or slightly lower than, the foot
of the temple walls. Such clay dolls belong to the
period between the end of the Middle Kingdom and
the beginning of the XVIIIth Dynasty : as evidence
for the date of the crude brick temple this is import-
ant, and it has therefore been figured on PL. LXVI.
There never seems to have been much in the way
of buildings in this quarter of the temple : it is also
unprofitable, because the surface has been denuded to
such an extent that water stands in places during the
season of inundation.
In the lower strata only a few fragments of pre-
historic pottery and charcoal were found : in which
respect the strata here form a marked contrast to
their representatives in other quarters of the temple
area.
i
\0
Wester" f
dexceptthe
fe lime
1, habit
. eptthe fl«
A I
the foe-
5 These dr,
■and fit
T A drawing of
Iff-
.:; of rubbish, 1
which hi
.imofoneof the
nil Dynasty
[(prehistoric si
itaster jar, in t
:s» from its tec
:period. This obj
The Weli
- of the
no struct!
j;ws found, ex<
ta '«re, howev
{•s »l fragments
charcoa
-andtheone ab<
-^fcuts throug]
iaM showing'
Reading down
"ISfeseco
•Pt a fe
bte;the
entedanj
7s °f the b
:,./tocher.
'of the
■■■HHHi
wmm
THE TEMENOS AREA.
The pillars, too, seem to belong to this second period
rather than to the first.
At certain places, rude pillars, or perhaps statues,
were set up, the bases of which are described below.
By the second or third dynasty this primitive
temple had been encroached upon and heaped round
by habitations of this period, leaving the mound
rising above the new accumulation.
It is to this second period that the objects found
by Mr. Quibell would seem to belong.
Limestone Pillars.
20. Close, and evidently related in some way, to
the row of stones, are two rough limestone pillars (see
plan and Pl. LXV.) standing in the same archaic
stratum on which the long rows are laid. The one
figured on the upper part of the plate is the larger.
Its base rests in clean sand just below the level of the
charcoal-discoloured stratum. Near the base are
some rough angular blocks of Nubian sandstone,
which form a sort of socket for the pillar. These
blocks are on nearly the same level as the ground on
which the parallel rows of stones are laid.
Among the interstices of these socket stones
fragments of coarse red, and polished red, prehistoric
pottery were found.
The upper part of the pillar has been broken off
exhibiting a conchoidal fracture ; the top is now 2 • 6
metres below datum level, and level with a stratum
of clean white sand io or 20 cm. thick which is
probably the sand bed for the foundations of the
later crude brick buildings.
On the S.E. side of the pillar 55 cm. from the top,
is a mark that may have been produced by abrasion
such as may be seen on ancient buildings like the
temple of Edfu, or may have been produced by a
blow from an axe, or other sharp instrument, the cut
produced having been altered by the action of the
surrounding damp soil.
Another somewhat smaller limestone pillar was
found further to the S.W. (see PL. LXV. the upper
of the two drawings). The base was sunk less deeply
than the other pillar. Three rough sandstone blocks
formed a socket, at nearly the same level as the other.
Close by, in the stratum in which its base rests, a
fragment of prehistoric pottery decorated with red
wavy lines, was found. The top of this pillar also,
had been broken off, the top is now 2 ■ 5 metres below
datum line which is practically the same depth as the
other.
Two other pillars were found in the previous year
by Mr. Quibell. One was situated close to the
revetted passage that projects from the south face of
the circular Revetment, and another below the bases of
the sandstone columns that occupy the space near the
temple well.
It may be that these pillars are the lower portions
of rude statues, such as were found by Professor
Petrie at Kuft, and at the northern gateway of the
town during the present excavations.
On the plan and sections all early work is shown in
black.
Though the section was made along the lines
marked on the plan, nevertheless all archaic stone-
work is shown even if it be behind the plane of the
section, in which case the section may be regarded as
an elevation. The brick walls which are later have
not been so treated.
CHAPTER III.
the temenos area.
West Angle.
21. THE western angle of the temple enclosure is
occupied by a number of native houses ; these it was
not deemed expedient to pull down for the sake
of the rough stone-work, as nothing else (except
pottery, and a few New Kingdom scarabs of very
poor quality) was found in this quarter of the temple.
A small doll of dark-coloured baked clay was
found here, level with, or slightly lower than, the foot
of the temple walls. Such clay dolls belong to the
period between the end of the Middle Kingdom and
the beginning of the XVIIIth Dynasty : as evidence
for the date of the crude brick temple this is import-
ant, and it has therefore been figured on PL. LXVI.
There never seems to have been much in the way
of buildings in this quarter of the temple : it is also
unprofitable, because the surface has been denuded to
such an extent that water stands in places during the
season of inundation.
In the lower strata only a few fragments of pre-
historic pottery and charcoal were found : in which
respect the strata here form a marked contrast to
their representatives in other quarters of the temple
area.
i
\0
Wester" f
dexceptthe
fe lime
1, habit
. eptthe fl«
A I
the foe-
5 These dr,
■and fit
T A drawing of
Iff-
.:; of rubbish, 1
which hi
.imofoneof the
nil Dynasty
[(prehistoric si
itaster jar, in t
:s» from its tec
:period. This obj
The Weli
- of the
no struct!
j;ws found, ex<
ta '«re, howev
{•s »l fragments
charcoa
-andtheone ab<
-^fcuts throug]
iaM showing'
Reading down
"ISfeseco
•Pt a fe
bte;the
entedanj
7s °f the b
:,./tocher.
'of the
■■■HHHi
wmm