Understanding the news: Discovery of Statue of Amenhotep III and statues of the goddess Sekhmet
These discoveries are from the site of the Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III on the west bank of the Nile opposite the ancient capital of Thebes (Waset) in Upper Egypt. Although many statues of gods have been uncovered at the site, this temple was dedicated to the cult of the king, and was meant to memorialise him and provide nourishment for his ka (Spirit/Soul) in the Afterlife. Geophysics studies have recently revealed more about the ancient landscape and its relation to the Nile at this site.
The most recent discoveries include a 2.5m statue of the seated king, and 66 statues of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet who features prominently.
Apart from two massive statues of the king (sometimes known as the Colossi of Memnon) which would have framed the entrance to the temple very little of the superstructure of this temple remains after considerable damage sustained in antiquity and reuse of materials, but excavations have found many significant objects in the sediments and debris by Hourig Sourouzian and The Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project:
More info and photos from the project: https://www.wmf.org/project/mortuary-temple-amenhotep-iii
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/260538.aspx
These discoveries are from the site of the Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III on the west bank of the Nile opposite the ancient capital of Thebes (Waset) in Upper Egypt. Although many statues of gods have been uncovered at the site, this temple was dedicated to the cult of the king, and was meant to memorialise him and provide nourishment for his ka (Spirit/Soul) in the Afterlife. Geophysics studies have recently revealed more about the ancient landscape and its relation to the Nile at this site.
The most recent discoveries include a 2.5m statue of the seated king, and 66 statues of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet who features prominently.
Apart from two massive statues of the king (sometimes known as the Colossi of Memnon) which would have framed the entrance to the temple very little of the superstructure of this temple remains after considerable damage sustained in antiquity and reuse of materials, but excavations have found many significant objects in the sediments and debris by Hourig Sourouzian and The Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project:
More info and photos from the project: https://www.wmf.org/project/mortuary-temple-amenhotep-iii
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/260538.aspx
Beautiful.
ReplyDeletelike
ReplyDelete