Contra Temple

Introduction


The Contra Temple was located east of the Akhmenu between the eastern obelisks of Hatshepsut. The temple opened to the east. The low screen walls of the building’s façade were interspersed with six square pillars fronted by Osiride statues. Decoration on the pillars’ other three sides depicted the king embracing Amun-Ra. The building’s wide front hall led to a series of small chambers, inside which scenes showed the king standing before offering tables dedicated to the gods Amun and Min. A naos, carved from a single piece of calcite, was located in the central chamber. This naos housed a (now broken) dyad of Thutmose III and Amun-Ra (though one scholar has suggested that Hatshepsut may have originally been depicted).
Measurements: The building measures approximately 15.5m across and 8.2m deep.

Phases of Construction

Thutmose III

Contra temples, usually appended to the rear wall of a temple and opening outward, provided a location for those not allowed to enter the temple proper to interact with the divinities. This example, standing against the eastern wall of the temple built by Thutmose III, offered one such place on the eastern side of Karnak. Known as the “chapel of the hearing ear,” the shrine allowed the populace of Thebes to petition a statue of the king with Amun-Ra.

Construction materials: sandstone, calcite (“Egyptian alabaster”)

About the reconstruction model of Thutmose III

The reconstruction of the contra temple was based on a plan of the structure (Van Siclen 1986: pl. 10), a general detailed plan of overall Karnak (Carlotti 2001: pl. 1), and photographs of the building today.

The walls of the temple were covered with a simple sandstone pattern on the model.

Neither the central calcite naos nor the Osiris statues were included in the model.

Nectanebo I

Nectanebo I added two small shrines to the northern and southern sides of the contra temple, enclosing the bases of Hatshepsut’s obelisks. These chapels had round, engaged columns in the center of both their northern and southern walls.

Construction materials: limestone

Modern Site Photos

Documentation

Borchardt, Ludwig. (1938),Ägyptische tempel mit Umgang. Beiträge zur ägyptischen Bauforschung und Altertumskunde,. Cairo: Selbstverlag des herausgebers

Van Siclen, Charles. (1986),The Alabaster Shrine of King Amenhotep II. Brooklyn Museum Archaeological Expedition to the Precinct of the Goddess Mut at South Karnak. San Antonio: Brooklyn Museum, pl 10.

Carlotti, Jean-François. (2001),L’Akh-menou de Thoutmosis III à Karnak : etude architecturale. Paris: Recherche sur les civilisations

Nims, Charles. (1971),The Eastern Temple at Karnak. Beiträge zur ägyptischen Bauforschung und Altertumskunde. Wiesbaden: Steiner in Kommvol. 12 , 107-111.

Varille, Alexandre. (1950),Description sommaire du sanctuarie oriental d’Amon-Rê à Karnak. Annales du service des antiquités de l’Égypte. vol. 50 , 137-247.

Teeter, Emily. (1993),Popular Worship in Ancient Egypt: Contrary to what is often written, commoners had access to their deities. KMT: a modern journal of Ancient Egypt. , 2vol. 4 , 28-37.

cbd gummy bears big bag | cbd r gummies | cbd gummies edmonton | procana cbd gummies | cbd gummy bears 250 mg | cbd gummies washington dc | grn cbd gummies | biolab cbd gummies | science cbd gummies sex | cbd gummies washington dc | cbd gummies order online | cbd gummies in va | cbd 25mg gummy bears | cbd gummy chart | everyday cbd gummies | cbd gummies 90 mg | eden herbals cbd gummies | charmlife cbd gummies | jars for cbd gummies | best gummy for ed | extensions male enhancement | best otc male enhancement 2024 | strong thc gummy bears | long jack penis enlargement | penis enlargement in medicine | 5k male enhancement pills | penis enlarge injection | best penis enlargement method | verutum rx male enhancement | apollo cbd gummies for ed | gummy bear on youtube | keto burn pills amazon | smart slim keto acv gummies | canada weight loss medication | spanish diet pills | metabolic keto gummies | keto gummy treats | svelte medical weight loss | keto pills for sale | organic diet pills | best otc diet pills | keto melt plus acv | k 3 diet pills | breast enhancement in males | fat burn keto pills | delta 8 cbd gummies uk | gummy bear for sex drive | keto drops keto plus acv | buspar and cbd gummies | penis enlargement patch | the best keto gummies | cali gummi cbd review | hair growth gummies reviews | slim candy keto gummies oprah | cbd gummies online pa | penis enlargement laser | pure slim keto acv | frosty bites cbd gummies | hypospadias penis enlargment | keto lyte gummies | cbd gummies for relaxing | amway male enhancement | oprah acv keto gummies amazon | fab cbd gummies near me | penis enlargement session | famous weight loss gummies | cbd thc gummies uk | save penis enlargement | divinity keto lab gummies | apollo cbd gummies 300mg | 3ko male enhancement | does cvs have keto gummies | cbd king gummies | non surgical penis enlargment | asian diet pills | cbd gummy bears cheap | fxm male enhancement pills | obvi elite weight loss pills | revital cbd gummies | male enhancement rods ebay | keto aurora gummies | cbd gummies epilepsy |