Medinet Habu (temple)

This article is about the temple. For other uses, see Medinet Habu (disambiguation).

Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III, from the air.

Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III, general view from the south

The Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu is an important New Kingdom period structure in the West Bank of Luxor in Egypt. Aside from its size and architectural and artistic importance, the temple is probably best known as the source of inscribed reliefs depicting the advent and defeat of the Sea Peoples during the reign of Ramesses III.

Description

Sketch of the inscriptions at the temple, by James Henry Breasted

Migdol entrance to Medinet Habu

Egypt - Medinet Habou [?], Thebes. Brooklyn Museum Archives, Goodyear Archival Collection

First Pylon of the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III

Ceiling decoration in the peristyle hall

The temple, some 150 m long, is of orthodox design, and resembles closely the nearby mortuary temple of Ramesses II (the Ramesseum). The temple precinct measures approximately 210 m (690 ft). by 300 m (1,000 ft) and contains more than 7,000 m² (75,347 sq ft) of decorated wall reliefs. Its walls are relatively well preserved and it is surrounded by a massive mudbrick enclosure, which may have been fortified. The original entrance is through a fortified gate-house, known as a migdol (a common architectural feature of Asiatic fortresses of the time).

Just inside the enclosure, to the south, are chapels of Amenirdis I, Shepenupet II and Nitiqret, all of whom had the title of Divine Adoratrice of Amun.

The first pylon leads into an open courtyard, lined with colossal statues of Ramesses III as Osiris on one side, and uncarved columns on the other. The second pylon leads into a peristyle hall, again featuring columns in the shape of Ramesses. This leads up a ramp that leads (through a columned portico) to the third pylon and then into the large hypostyle hall (which has lost its roof). Reliefs and actual heads of foreign captives were also found placed within the temple perhaps in an attempt to symbolise the king's control over Syria and Nubia.

In Coptic times, there was a church inside the temple structure, which has since been removed. Some of the carvings in the main wall of the temple have been altered by coptic carvings.

The Royal Palace was directly connected with the first courtyard of the Temple via the "Window of Appearances".

Minor king list

The Medinet Habu king list is a procession celebrating the festival of Min, with the names of nine pharaohs. It can be found on the upper register of the eastern wall in the second courtyard.

Excavation

Initial excavation of the temple took place sporadically between 1859 and 1899, under the auspices of the Department of Antiquities. During these decades the main temple was cleared, a large number of Coptic period buildings removed and the site made accessible to visitors.

The further excavation, recording and conservation of the temple has been facilitated in chief part by the Architectural and Epigraphic Surveys of University of Chicago's Oriental Institute, almost continuously since 1924.

Gallery

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  Ramessid columns in the peristyle court

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  A view of the Migdol tower at Medinet Habu

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  Glass and faience inlays found at the royal palace of Medinet Habu depicting Egypt's traditional enemies

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  Egypt - Medinet Habu, Thebes. Brooklyn Museum Archives, Goodyear Archival Collection

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  Egypt - Pavilion of Rameses III, Thebes. Brooklyn Museum Archives, Goodyear Archival Collection

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  Medinet Habu Temple Ceiling

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  Medinet Habu Temple Ceiling

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  Medinet Habu Temple, Pliles of Hands. An accounting method of determining how many killed in battle

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  Medinet Habu Temple, Piles of Genitals. An accounting method of determining how many killed in battle

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  Medinet Habu Temple Column Detail

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  Medinet Habu Temple Column Detail

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  Medinet Habu Temple Column Detail

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  Medinet Habu Temple, Column Detail

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  Habu Temple Scene. Note the colors.

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  Habu Temple Scene. Key for the door.

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  Habu Temple Scene. Hall.

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  Habu Temple Scene. Pharaoh Rules.

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  Habu Temple Scene. Note the God gives Pharaoh an Ankh, life.

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  Habu Temple Anointing Scene.

Further reading and references

• William J. Murnane, United with Eternity – A Concise Guide to the Monuments of Medinet Habu, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago and the American University of Cairo Press, 1980. ISBN 0-918986-28-1

Archaeological reports

• The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu I, Earlier Historical Records of Ramses III (OIP 8; Chicago, 1930)
• The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu II, Later Historical Records of Ramses III (OIP 9; Chicago, 1932)
• The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu III, The Calendar, the 'Slaughter House,' and Minor Records of Ramses III (OIP 23; Chicago, 1934)
• The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu IV, Festival Scenes of Ramses III (OIP 51; Chicago, 1940)
• The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu V, The Temple Proper, part 1 (OIP 83; Chicago, 1957)
• The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu VI, The Temple Proper, part 2 (OIP 84; Chicago, 1963)
• The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu VII, The Temple Proper, part 3 (OIP 93; Chicago, 1964)
• The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu VIII, The Eastern High Gate (OIP 94; Chicago, 1970)
• W. F. Edgerton, Medinet Habu Graffiti Facsimiles (OIP 36; Chicago, 1937)
• Uvo Hölscher, Medinet Habu 1924-1928. II The Architectural Survey of the Great Temple and Palace of Medinet Habu (season 1927-28). OIC, No. 5. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1929.
• H. J. Thissen, Die demotischen Graffiti von Medinet Habu: Zeugnisse zu Tempel und Kult im Ptolemäischen Ägypten (Demotische Studien 10; Sommerhausen, 1989)

See also

• Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III

External links

• The Epigraphic Survey – The Oriental Institute, University of Chicago
• A Foreign Captive at Medinet Habu
• Medinet Habu Picture Gallery 2006