The Most Important Capitals of Ancient Egypt: The History of Memphis, Thebes, and Alexandria by Charles River Editors

Author:Charles River Editors
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Charles River Editors
Published: 2016-07-30T23:00:00+00:00

The Bubasite Portal with a depiction of Sheshonq I and Iuput

Shortly after the death of Sheshonq I, Egypt was once again consumed by turmoil and civil war, and Karnak would see no new construction for over three centuries. As this suggests, the 22nd dynasty did not enjoy their power for long, and within a century of their ascent, a rival 23rd dynasty had arisen at Leontopolis in the central Delta. At first, the Thebans allied themselves with the new rulers, but when Nubia became a contender in the Egyptian power struggle in the middle of the 8th century, the situation changed rapidly. The Nubian pharaohs of the 25th[23] dynasty originally ruled from Napata, but they quickly began to extend their power and influence northward until one Nubian pharaoh, Piankhy (752-721), took control of Thebes around 740. Piankhy was succeeded by his brother, Shabaka (721-707), who quickly defeated his Delta rivals and united the Egyptian nation once again.

The pharaohs of the 25th dynasty were foreigners, and as such, they preferred to be buried near their Nubian capital. However, in all other respects, the new rulers were quick to adopt Egyptian customs, and their tombs were the first regal pyramids to be constructed in nearly a millennium.

The Nubian pharaoh Taharqua (690-664), still anxious to convince native Egyptians to accept their new regime, undertook a number of projects - both restorations and expansions - at Karnak. On the northern side of the sacred lake, Taharqua constructed a rectangular cult building using blocks that had been inscribed for his predecessor. Its sandstone edifice consisted of a series of subterranean passages, as well as a superstructure with a central open court. A deep stone well (the “Nilometer”) cut through the center of the courtyard.

The exterior northern and southern walls of the edifice were decorated with sunken reliefs which depicted the king and various gods. The first scene of these reliefs showed the king as he left his palace, while ensuing scenes showed him as he greeted the gods and made the sacrifices necessary to enter the temple. Reliefs on the interior walls featured the litanies of the sun, as well as some scenes associated with the decade festival. The structure was used for rituals concerning Amun-Ra’s return from the west bank, the god’s union with Nun, and the creative powers of the primeval waters. Furthermore, it housed the celebration of the union of the gods Osiris and Amun.

In the temple’s first court, Taharqo installed an impressive limestone kiosk which consisted of two rows of five large open papyrus form columns. These were connected with low screen walls to form the free-standing edifice, though the huge distance between the two aisles suggests that the structure was unroofed. The entire area was paved with rose granite stones, and a calcite shrine in the center of the kiosk supported the bark of the god, while doorways within the screen walls opened to all four sides of the court. The kiosk is believed to have functioned in the “union

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