| Chapels north of the enclosure wall of the main Ptolemaic temple |
The page was last modified on October 6th 2007
Sources:1. Bomann, Ann H.: The private chapel in ancient Egypt : a study of the chapels in the
workmen's village at el Amarna with special reference to Deir el-Medina and other sites.
London : Kegan Paul International, 1991.
2. Wilkinson, R. H. : The complete temples of Ancient Egypt.
London : Thames & Hudson, 2000.
3. Clayton, Peter A.: Chronicles of the Pharaohs : the reighn-by-reign record of the rulers and
dynasties of ancient Egypt
London : Thames & Hudson, 1994.
workmen's village at el Amarna with special reference to Deir el-Medina and other sites.
London : Kegan Paul International, 1991.
2. Wilkinson, R. H. : The complete temples of Ancient Egypt.
London : Thames & Hudson, 2000.
3. Clayton, Peter A.: Chronicles of the Pharaohs : the reighn-by-reign record of the rulers and
dynasties of ancient Egypt
London : Thames & Hudson, 1994.
The chapel of Hathor of Seti I.
consisted of a forecourt, outer and inner
halls, pronaos and sanctuary, and a left
annexe with dependencies. The forecourt
was entered from the southeast over a
ramp with a central slide flanked on
either side by ten steps.
consisted of a forecourt, outer and inner
halls, pronaos and sanctuary, and a left
annexe with dependencies. The forecourt
was entered from the southeast over a
ramp with a central slide flanked on
either side by ten steps.
The forecourt was paved in limestone.
It had two tomb shafts (now filled), one
of which existed prior to the
construction of the chapel.The other
dated to the Ramesside period. A flight
of five steps leads from the forecourt
into the outer hall.
It had two tomb shafts (now filled), one
of which existed prior to the
construction of the chapel.The other
dated to the Ramesside period. A flight
of five steps leads from the forecourt
into the outer hall.
A bench with five seats was set against the
southern wall. Bruyere suggested that
another bench with seven seats was
positioned against the northern wall. Two
column bases were aligned on either side of
the central axis. The floor was paved in
limestone.
southern wall. Bruyere suggested that
another bench with seven seats was
positioned against the northern wall. Two
column bases were aligned on either side of
the central axis. The floor was paved in
limestone.
Two steps led from the outer hall into
the inner, hypostyle hall. A rectangular
limestone basin, no longer present, was
sunk into the floor at an angle to the
columns. There were originally two
limestone altars near the staircase to
the west of the hall. Fragments of wall
paintings also came from this part of
chapel. A flight of seven steps
ascended to the pronaos.
the inner, hypostyle hall. A rectangular
limestone basin, no longer present, was
sunk into the floor at an angle to the
columns. There were originally two
limestone altars near the staircase to
the west of the hall. Fragments of wall
paintings also came from this part of
chapel. A flight of seven steps
ascended to the pronaos.
View back into the inner, hypostyle
hall and the outer hall behind it.
hall and the outer hall behind it.
Seven steps opening directly into
the tripartite sanctuary.
Originally, the shrines were
symmetrical ; during the Ptolemaic
period, the central and northern
shrines were altered
the tripartite sanctuary.
Originally, the shrines were
symmetrical ; during the Ptolemaic
period, the central and northern
shrines were altered
| The first group of the chapels at Deir el-Medina lay to the north of the enclosure wall of the main Ptolemaic temple. The chapel area covers the slope gently rising towards the western steep cliffs. |
| The chapel of Hathor of Seti I. Seti I (about 1291-1278 BC) built a temple for the workmen of the village in the area just beyond the northern side of the enclosure wall of the main temple. It was considerably larger in its structure than the earlier building of the temple of the cult of Amenhotep I, remains of which stand on the terrace above the Ptolemaic temple enclosure. |
a right angle, joined the entrance of a
right angle, joined the entrance of the
chapel and the rear wall of the Chapel
of Hathor. The hall was entered by a
doorway in the northeast corner. At
the opposite end of the hall were two
columns placed before the naos, which
was flanked by two small whitewashed
niches. The columns were in the form of
papyrus and carried the name of Khons,
son of Sennedjem. Fragments of
decorated wall plaster and a head of
the goddess Taweret also came from
the chapel.came from the chapel.
right angle, joined the entrance of the
chapel and the rear wall of the Chapel
of Hathor. The hall was entered by a
doorway in the northeast corner. At
the opposite end of the hall were two
columns placed before the naos, which
was flanked by two small whitewashed
niches. The columns were in the form of
papyrus and carried the name of Khons,
son of Sennedjem. Fragments of
decorated wall plaster and a head of
the goddess Taweret also came from
the chapel.came from the chapel.
Detail view of the remains of
plaster from within the chapel wall
plaster from within the chapel wall
Chapel A
Chapel B
The chapel included a forecourt,
outer and inner halls, sanctuary,
and left annexe, and lay north and
west of chapel A. The forecourt
was 3.29 m wide x 3.60 m long.
At one time it accommodated
three jars of different sizes.
outer and inner halls, sanctuary,
and left annexe, and lay north and
west of chapel A. The forecourt
was 3.29 m wide x 3.60 m long.
At one time it accommodated
three jars of different sizes.
The outer hall beyond the court
was 4.92 m wide x 4.78 m long,
and had benches set against its
southern, eastern and part of its
northern walls. Against the
northeastern wall was a low
limestone platform. A doorway in
the southwestern corner led to an
annexe partitioned into two
sections.
was 4.92 m wide x 4.78 m long,
and had benches set against its
southern, eastern and part of its
northern walls. Against the
northeastern wall was a low
limestone platform. A doorway in
the southwestern corner led to an
annexe partitioned into two
sections.
Two steps led from the inner hall
to the small sanctuary, which
contained a single niche and a
bench around its walls. A limestone
threshold with a pivot hole
indicated that the sanctuary once
had a door. A stela once lined the
back wall of the niche. This may
have been the stela of the
foreman Amennakht, who was
shown seated holding two w3dt
signs.
to the small sanctuary, which
contained a single niche and a
bench around its walls. A limestone
threshold with a pivot hole
indicated that the sanctuary once
had a door. A stela once lined the
back wall of the niche. This may
have been the stela of the
foreman Amennakht, who was
shown seated holding two w3dt
signs.
Chapel C
| View of chapels C and D Both chapels lay the furthest up the slope and north of the northwest angle of the main enclosure wall. They shared their southern walls. |
| The building consisted of a forecourt and outer hall, an inner hall, pronaos and sanctuary. The whole building underwent several alterations. |
| The outer hall was approached by two steps and was 4.44 m wide and 3.80 m long. It had a bench against the northern wall. One step led into the inner hall. |
Chapel F
This chapel and chapel G
were called Chapelles
Religieuses by Bruyere.
The chapel was on an
east-west axis, and
abutted the north wall of
Chapel B. It consisted of
an outer and inner hall and
pronaos. At the time of
excavation, the sanctuary
was no longer surviving.
were called Chapelles
Religieuses by Bruyere.
The chapel was on an
east-west axis, and
abutted the north wall of
Chapel B. It consisted of
an outer and inner hall and
pronaos. At the time of
excavation, the sanctuary
was no longer surviving.
| The outer hall was 4.20 m wide x 4.75 m long and had pylons before entrance. According to Bruyere, the pylons were 85 cm thick. An engaged brick pillar abutted the centre of the southern wall and supported at one time a main beam of the roof. A limestone staircase leading into the inner halls seems to have had 6 steps originally, but the plans and this photograph (after reconstruction) show only 5. |
| Inner hall. A bench 3.25 m long, 34 cm wide and 35 cm high abutted the south wall. This, in turn, was adjacent to a limestone platform in the southeast corner, which was 1.64 m x 88 cm x 26 cm high. On the north wall the bench was 1.37 m long x 38 cm wide x 46 cm high. |
The chapel was approached
from the southeast by a
double staircase ot 3
steps each. These led to
2 terraces. From the 2nd
terrace, 2 elongated
steps, followed by a flight
of stairs with 4 steps set
between the usual
balustrade, led to the
outer hall.
from the southeast by a
double staircase ot 3
steps each. These led to
2 terraces. From the 2nd
terrace, 2 elongated
steps, followed by a flight
of stairs with 4 steps set
between the usual
balustrade, led to the
outer hall.
Remains of a trough in
the outermost pier.
the outermost pier.
Chapel G
This chapel lay north of Chapel F and on a west-north-west to east-south-east axis. It is
dated to the Ramesside period, and consisted of an approach ramp, outer and inner halls, 2
side chambers contained within the structure, a pronaos and sanctuary. A ramp of undressed
stone set between brick balustrades , and with overall measurements of 5.50 m long x 2.75 m
wide, led to the outer hall or court.
dated to the Ramesside period, and consisted of an approach ramp, outer and inner halls, 2
side chambers contained within the structure, a pronaos and sanctuary. A ramp of undressed
stone set between brick balustrades , and with overall measurements of 5.50 m long x 2.75 m
wide, led to the outer hall or court.
The court or the outer hall
had pylons on either side of
its entrance. The southern
pylon was 73 cm thick, the
one to the north was 76 cm
thick. They were plastered
and whitewashed. The court
was 5.43 m wide x 5.47 m
long and was built over an
earlier tomb shaft.
had pylons on either side of
its entrance. The southern
pylon was 73 cm thick, the
one to the north was 76 cm
thick. They were plastered
and whitewashed. The court
was 5.43 m wide x 5.47 m
long and was built over an
earlier tomb shaft.
Pylons also framed the entrance to the
inner hall. A limestone threshold in the
entrance had 2 pivot holes and grooves
for architraves, indicating that a
double door served this part of the
building. The inner hall had 3 phases of
building. In the 3rd phase it became
hypostyle, with 2 columns and a flat
roof. The column bases had a diameter
of 70 cm. The floor of the inner hall
was of packed earth. The walls were
decorated. Part of the design
consisted of a floral frieze, which
circumscribed the wall in the style of
the Ramesside period.
inner hall. A limestone threshold in the
entrance had 2 pivot holes and grooves
for architraves, indicating that a
double door served this part of the
building. The inner hall had 3 phases of
building. In the 3rd phase it became
hypostyle, with 2 columns and a flat
roof. The column bases had a diameter
of 70 cm. The floor of the inner hall
was of packed earth. The walls were
decorated. Part of the design
consisted of a floral frieze, which
circumscribed the wall in the style of
the Ramesside period.
Four limestone steps in the west
of the inner hall led to a limestone
platform before the sanctuary. On
either side of the flight of stairs
was a small enclosure.
of the inner hall led to a limestone
platform before the sanctuary. On
either side of the flight of stairs
was a small enclosure.
Four limestone steps in the west
of the inner hall led to a limestone
platform before the sanctuary. On
either side of the flight of stairs
was a small enclosure. The walls of
the sanctuary abutted them from
the rear.
of the inner hall led to a limestone
platform before the sanctuary. On
either side of the flight of stairs
was a small enclosure. The walls of
the sanctuary abutted them from
the rear.
The sanctuary consisted of a single
naos cut into the cliffs behind and
measured 3.73 m long x 2.50 m
wide. The interior rear wall of the
niche had a retaining wall 57 cm
thick.
naos cut into the cliffs behind and
measured 3.73 m long x 2.50 m
wide. The interior rear wall of the
niche had a retaining wall 57 cm
thick.
An earlier tomb shaft.
Pylons also framed the entrance to the inner
hall. A limestone threshold in the entrance had
2 pivot holes and grooves for architraves,
indicating that a double door served this part of
the building. Detail.
hall. A limestone threshold in the entrance had
2 pivot holes and grooves for architraves,
indicating that a double door served this part of
the building. Detail.
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A double stairway with 3 steps to
the south and 2 steps to the north
led to the pronaos. This part of
the chapel was delineated by brick
piers rather than walls. 2 piers
abutted the north and south walls
of the pronaos and 1 pier marked
the centre. Judging by the
foregoing arrangement of the
pronaos, it probably had 2
principal shrines, with a
compartment to the south.
the south and 2 steps to the north
led to the pronaos. This part of
the chapel was delineated by brick
piers rather than walls. 2 piers
abutted the north and south walls
of the pronaos and 1 pier marked
the centre. Judging by the
foregoing arrangement of the
pronaos, it probably had 2
principal shrines, with a
compartment to the south.