Introduction:
Parts of Karnak and Luxor temples are represented in important scenes
in Theban monuments; the important parts of the temple, specially the pylons and
gateways have the precedence in representation; these parts are represented larger
than other less significant parts. The main gateway of a temple might be larger than
any other entrance, for these parts have more important symbolic function1
The main characteristic features in pylon representations are two towers with
inclined faces flanking a portal with a smaller doorway in its axis. Flagstaffs rise in
front of each tower, they vary in number according to which pylon is represented, and
theses flagstaffs are protected at the bottom by stone or wood gratings2.
The date of the scene is an essential factor and according to the date it can be
suggested which part of the temple is represented, and to which king this part is
ascribed.
These scenes that represent parts of Karnak and Luxor temples are depicted on
the walls of Karnak and Luxor temples themselves, where it represent festivals or
some religious activities performed in this part of the temple or connected to it. The
scenes of temples also can be found in some tombs of officials who had close relation
with the temples like priests and high officials who supervise work at the temples.
A-Scenes represent parts of Karnak and Luxor temples in Theban tombs:
1- TT16 , Tomb of Panehsy:
Panehsy was priest of Amenophis I and chief singer of the alters of Amun
during the time of Ramesses II3. The post of Panehsy as chief singer of the alters of
Amun made him with a close relation to the temple of Amun at Karnak, that the
temple is represented two times in his tomb; in scene (3) (plate 1) Panehsy libates
offerings before temple of Amun-Re4. The temple is titled pr Imn-Ra Temple
of Amun, of course this is Karnak temple during the time of Ramesses II, the text
describes the scene as:
Dd mdw in Wsir Hm-ntr n (Imn-Htp) n pA wbAt PA-nHsy mAa-xrw
sti xt-ntr Htp Hr xt …..
A recitation by Wsir the prophet of Amenhotep of the court Panehsy justified
Pour divine offerings, which are offered on the offering table……
The pylon which is represented here is the second pylon with its four flagstaffs
as appear in the time of Ramesses II. Another representation of Karnak temple in
scene (5) of the tomb5 (plate 2), Panehsy is represented at the head of the procession
of the great vase of Amun coming out from the temple, this is another representation
of the second pylon; the façade of the temple at this time.
Panehsy shows a close relation to Karnak temple in these scenes, where he is
represented offering and sharing some ceremonies in front of the temple. The pylon
here is the second pylon the façade of the temple during the time of Ramesses II, the
time when Panehsy occupied his post.
2-TT49, Tomb of Neferhotep:
An elaborate representation of Karnak temple exists in TT 49, the tomb of
Neferhotep. Neferhotep was "Superintendent of oxen and heifers of Amun", he also
bears the title "chief scribe of Amun", a title with a rare occurrence6. Neferhotep may
occupied this position during the reign of Ay7. A scene on the northern wall of the
inner room (PM 15-16)8 (Plate 3) represents the deceased receives bouquets in Karnak
temple. Karnak temple representation in the tomb of course reflects its plan toward
the end of the eighteenth dynasty. The first pylon to the left in the scene for Davies9 is
the third pylon built by Amenhotep III, behind the pylon in the scene stands a sole
obelisk, for Davies this may be a simple representation of the pair of obelisks once a
time stood here, it is seem that the representation of the this part of the temple is not a
real one, for the artist must omitted the second pair of obelisks erected here behind the
third pylon for simplicity sake. It is suggested also that the artist omitted the third
pylon in this scene, so the scene begins with the fourth pylon of Thutmosis I, if this is
the case so the obelisk behind the pylon is that of Hatshepsut. Badawy noted that a
wooden porch on open papyriform columns stood abutting on Pylon IV10, this feature
of a wooden porch and the papyriform column behind the pylon must refer to the
Wadjet court between the fourth and fifth pylon, and the third pylon of the scene is
Karnak sixth pylon, then the scene shows the sanctuary of Thutmosis III11.
Other parts of the temple are shown in this scene; the harbor linked to the Nile
by a canal, and storerooms of the temple12.
The representation of Karnak temple here must serve the idea that Neferhotep
is participating in such activities in the estate of Amun at Thebes, he is represented
receiving flowers inside the temple from the priests who are represented offering and
burning incense in front of the sanctuary, and Neferhotep is represented issuing from
the pylon presents a bouquet to his wife.
3- TT75 Tomb of Amenhotep Si-se:
Another representation of Karnak temple exists in the tomb TT75 of
Amenhotep Si-se, "the second prophet of Amun" during the reign of Thutmosis IV13.
The scene in the transverse hall PM (6)14 represents a procession of three rows of men
holding papyrus-stalks approaching temple pylon with colossal statues (plate 4). This
is a part of a scene in which the king conferred on Amenhotep his new dignity.
The scene of the temple simply shows the frontage of Karnak temple during
the time of Thutmosis IV, to judge from the colossal seated statues this must be the
southern face of the eights pylon, the southern entrance of the temple, some colossi
here were restored by Thutmosis IV15
B-Scenes represent parts of Karnak temple in Karnak temple:
1-Room north of Granite sanctuary
A scene represents part of Karnak temple is found on the northern wall of
room XV(scene PM 309), one of the rooms north of the granite sanctuary dates to the
reign of Thutmosis III16 (plate 5); this scene represents the vizier of Upper and Lower
Egypt before a pylon.
The scene represents a pylon with two colossi and two obelisks front of it17.
This scene must represent the southern entrance of the seventh pylon which was built
by Thutmosis III, he adorned its southern face with two red granite obelisks and two
colossi of himself18
2-Between Eighth and ninth pylon:
Another scene in Karnak temple represents a temple pylon. This scene is
found on the wall west of the eighth pylon, scene PM (532)19. The scene represents
Hm-ntr tpi n Imn mry-Imn "The high priest of Amun, Meriamun"
and other offering bearers front of a pylon at Karnak (plate 6). Pillet dates Meriamun
to the time of Ramesses II, and according to some artistic details in the scene of the
offering bearers he thought that this scene belongs to the art of Ramesses II, so he
believes that this scene represents the second pylon20.
The study of Luxor temple Opet scene in the colonnade reveals a great
resemblance between the third pylon represented in these scenes and the pylon of
Meriamun, so this study21 proves that the offering bearers and sacrificial cattle in the
Meriamun scene below the pylon greatly resemble those in the Opet reliefs, also the
second pylon of Karnak depicted in Khonsu temple does not show the gateway
depicted in a similar fashion in both the Luxor and in the Meriamun scenes. So it
could be concluded that this scene represent the third pylon, and Meriamun himself
must be another personality who bears the name during the time of Horemheb22
3- Temple of Khonsu:
A very famous representation of the second pylon of Karnak temple on the
east wall, bottom register, first scene north of the south door of the court of Khonsu
temple dated back to the time of Herihor (Plate 7). The scene here represents the
second pylon with its eight flagpoles23. The text speaks of Herihor's "renewing '
sHD WAst 'Illuminating Waset' anew, this is the name of the second pylon, this
name is found in the tomb of Ramose at Thebes, and on the gateway of the second
pylon itself in a Ptolemaic text, another name for the pylon in the text is Imn
m rSwt 'Amun Rejoices.'. The significance of the two names is not clear; may Herihor
rename the structure24.
C-Scenes represent parts of Karnak and Luxor temple in Luxor temple:
1- Scenes represent Luxor temple:
On the walls of Luxor temple there are two important scenes representing the
first pylon of Luxor temple. The first scene represents the temple pylon is found in the
first court, on the western part of the southern wall25. The scene represents the arrival
of the Opet festival to Luxor temple, a head of the festival procession are represented
seventeen sons of Ramesses II with priests and decorated bulls and offering bringers,
at the left end of the scene the procession reaches Luxor temple pylon, the
representation of the pylon (plate 6) shows the four flag staffs and the two seated
colossi of Ramesses II and the four standing statues of Ramesses II two front of each
wing of the pylon, here the standing statues are represented with the double crown
despite that the right side standing statue now front of the western pylon wears the
white crown of Upper Egypt.
The second scene exists on the inner face of the eastern wing of the first pylon
itself (plate 5), of course the scene dates back to the reign of Ramesses II and
represents the king consecrating temple before Amun26. In the right side of the scene
the name of the temple is given as Hwt-ntr Ra-ms-sw-mry-Imn-
[Xnmt-HH m-pr-Imn] "The temple of Ramesses Mry-Amun [united with eternity in the
place of Amun]". This scene represents the just the pylon of the temple with the two
seated colossi of Ramesses II, the four standing statues are not represented in this
scene, this means that this scene is representing the pylon in a stage of construction
before the first scene in the court which represent the pylon with two seated colossi of
Ramesses II and the four standing statues.
2-Scenes represent Karnak Temple:
Karnak temple is represented twice on the eastern and western walls of the
colonnade, within the context of the scenes represent the Opet festival journey from
Karnak to Luxor temple and back to Karnak. The part of Karnak temple represented
here is the façade of the temple during the time of Amenhotep III that is the third
pylon. The scenes on the western wall depict the journey from Karnak to Luxor
temple27 (plate 10). The third pylon of Karnak temple was the place where the Opet festival comes out from Karnak at this time till the construction of the second pylon.
Here the two towers of the pylon are represented, each tower with four flagstaffs front of it. The artist has successfully conveyed the rough, knotty texture of the tall flagstaffs that stand in niches flanking the entrance, as well as the offering scenes carved on the gate between the two towers.
The Opet festival scenes on the east wall of the colonnade represent the procession from Luxor to Karnak temple, PM scenes 82-8628 (plate 11). Here is represented the third pylon again, as a place where the festival ends, showing the same features of the scene of the pylon on the west side wall of the colonnade.
Conclusion:
There are some scenes on Theban tombs and temples represent parts of Karnak and Luxor temples. A part of these scenes can be found in Luxor and Karnak temples themselves. The pylons are the most important parts of the temples to be represented in scenes.
The second pylon of Karnak temple is represented two times in TT16, the tomb of Panehsy, a priest from the time of Ramesses II, where Panehsy represents himself makes offerings and participates in ceremonies front of the temple. An important scene of Karnak temple is found in TT 49, the tomb of Neferhotep, "Superintendent of oxen and heifers of Amun", during the reign of Ay. Neferhotep is represented receives bouquets in Karnak temple. The plan of the temple in the scene shows three pylons, these may be the third, fourth and fifth pylon, so the scene omitted the sixth pylon and shows just the sanctuary.
Another representation of Karnak temple exists in the tomb TT75 of Amenhotep Si-se, "the second prophet of Amun" during the reign of Thutmosis IV. The scene of the temple simply shows the frontage of Karnak temple during the time of Thutmosis IV, the southern face of the eights pylon.
Some representations of Karnak and Luxor temple are found on the walls of the two temples themselves. In Karnak temple two scenes represent part of the temple are found on the northern wall of room XV(scene PM 309), one of the rooms north of the granite sanctuary dates to the reign of Thutmosis III, and on the wall west of the eighth pylon, scene PM (532). The first scene dates to the time of Thutmosis represents the vizier of Upper and Lower Egypt before the southern entrance of the seventh pylon, and the second scene represents "The high priest of Amun, Meriamun" front of the third pylon. A scene in Khonsu temple represents the second pylon during the time of Herihor.
In Luxor temple there two scenes represent Luxor temple itself; the first scene is found on the inner face of the eastern wing of the pylon and represents Ramesses II consecrating temple before Amun. The second scene on the western side of the southern wall of the first court shows the first pylon of the temple as the last destination of Opet festivals. Karnak temple third pylon is represented twice in the Opet festival scenes on the colonnade; on the western wall as the beginning of the festival at Karnak and on the eastern wall as the end of the returning procession back to Karnak.
