GEBEL SILSILA - THE NEW KINGDOM SHRINES The ancient Egyptian site of Gebel Silsila is located about 100 km south of Luxor. It lies where the Nile Valley gets narrower and the desert margin comes directly down to the water’s edge. This is the narrowest part of the Valley and the river flows through a narrow gorge. This region is dominated by sandstone, and because it was so close to the river’s edge, the region was extensively quarried. Numerous shrines and stelae were cut into the river edge to commemorate quarrying. The most spectacular quarries are on the east bank. The approach from the north is dominated by a stela of King Akhenaten who is shown with his original name of Amenhotep IV and worshipping the god Amun. It therefore dates to the very beginning of the reign. Elsewhere in the quarries there are a number of painted stelae of the reign of Amenhotep III and a number of unfinished sphinxes with either ram or human heads. The northern end of the western bank is dominated by a rock cut monument known as the Speos Horemhab. It consists of a single large chamber with numerous stelae and rock cut statues. There are several scenes showing Horemheb before an assortment of deities. There are also several scenes showing prisoners of war. One interesting scene shows Horemheb being nursed by a goddess identified as Taweret. In another scene Horemheb is shown on a palaquin, carried by approximately 12 men. The Speos Horemhab was constructed late in the King’s reign and was left unfinished at his death – officials of the Ramesside Period subsequently left memorials to their quarrying work and there is an interesting scene carved by Prince Kaemwaset, son of Ramesses II, which gives details of the family of Queen Isetnofret. To the south of the Speos Horemhab are a number of rock-cut stelae. These were cut by the pharaohs Ramesses V, Shosenq I and Ramesses III and mark the northern limit of the quarries on the western side of the river. This area of Gebel Silsila contains evidence of quarrying and there are a large number of private shrines and monuments. These were created by officials who undertook quarrying work in the area and they give us fascinating insights into the lives and titles of the individuals concerned. The most important historically is a shrine of the courtier Senenmut who held power during the reign of Hatshepsut. Many of these monuments have been damaged by subsequent quarrying work, and earth movements have split some of them in two! Gebel Silsila was one of the main quarries of Egypt. The temples of Karnak, Edfu and Kom Ombo were all built of stone quarried from this region. Akhenaten used the quarry for his talatat blocks for his temple building at Karnak and elsewhere. Masons marks and evidence of past work is widely found, and the terracing of the quarry gives a good indication of how the stone was removed and taken down to the river. The Arabic name ‘Gebel Silsila’ means ‘Mountain of the Chain’. Legend states that a chain once ran between the east and west banks presumably to bar passage through the narrows - the site is marked by an enormous pillar of rock which is surmounted by a huge boulder which is said to be the location of the ‘capstan’ for the chain. To the south of the column there are three shrines. These are royal monuments constructed by Merenptah, Ramesses II and Sety I. Nearby lies a stela of Ramesses III and several private stelae. At this point, the southern end of the site, the Nile Inundation used to rush through the canyon, and the Nile was offered sacrifices for the well being of Egypt. B.C. Archaeology Travel is leading a tour of Egypt which includes a visit to Gebel Silsila - our luxury dahabiya sailing boat stops at the site overnight: ANCIENT EGYPT: THE AMARNA PERIOD A tour of ancient Egypt (Amarna Period) led by Dr Michael Birrell Includes: Beni Hasan, Giza, Amarna, Abydos, Luxor, 5 night luxury Nile Dahabiya cruise, Edfu, Philae 6th - 27th March 2015 $7800.00 including airfares from Australia Itinerary: bcarchaeology/amarna.html
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 12:48:08 +0000
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