Shoshenq I Court

Related Features

Originally built by Shoshenq I – 945 BCE to 924 BCE

Modified by Nectanebo I – 380 BCE to 362 BCE

Other works initiated by Shoshenq I:

Western Processional Way, Bubastite Portal, Shoshenq I Court

Other works initiated by Nectanebo I:

1st Pylon, Contra Temple, Opet Temple, Shoshenq I Court, Enclosures and Gates, Bab el Amara Gate, Other Processional Ways

Introduction


The temple’s first court, built by Shoshenq I, was located between the first and second pylon. The court enclosed the Sety II shrine and the northern section of the Ramesses III temple. The court was lined on its northern and southern sides with sandstone papyrus bud columns. A small area between the Ramesses III temple and the second pylon is known as the “Bubastite portal.” Inside the court, two columns mark this gate. The majority of the court still exists at Karnak today, only its west wall was destroyed during later construction in the area.
Measurements: The court is 82m wide and 101m deep. The western gate had an opening of 17.70m and a total height of 27.50m.

Phases of Construction

Shoshenq I

Shoshenq I constructed a huge court before the second pylon, the previous main entrance to the temple on its east/west axis. On the west side of the court, he probably built a huge new gateway (incorporated into the later pylon towers of Nectanebo). A stela from year 21 of Shoshenq’s reign explained that the king intended to “illumine Thebes by erecting its double door of millions of cubits, to make a festival court for the house of his father Amun-Ra, king of the gods.”

Two rows of fifty ram-headed sphinxes would have fronted the second pylon before the construction of the court. No doubt the king was forced to rearrange these sphinxes; a group of them may have been placed outside the new court.

The southeast exterior wall of the court was decorated with a series of famous scenes portraying the king triumphing over his enemies in Syro-Palestine.

See the Bubastite Portal for a discussion of this feature.

Construction materials: sandstone

About the reconstruction model of Shoshenq I

The reconstruction of the court’s western wall (later destroyed) was made based on the hypotheses of Arnold (1999: fig. 6). The basic plan of the courtyard was developed from the plan of the overall temple by Carlotti (2001: pl. 1). The design of the columns on the model were based on axial drawings by Carlotti (1995: pl. XXVII).

The court walls and its columns were given a plain sandstone pattern. As in reality, these were left undecorated.

The reconstruction of central gateway was based on the plan of Lauffray (1970: fig. 1). Since the upper portion of the gate was never completed, the incomplete area is shown transparent on the model. This offers a hypothetical reconstruction for the intended form of the gate.

The gate was given a plain sandstone pattern.

Nectanebo I

Nectanebo destroyed the western wall of the court in order to begin construction on his giant pylon entrance, the first pylon.

See Pylon I for more information on this featureIt is possible that the main gate of the existing first court was retained and incorporated into the new entrance.

In order to make room for the construction ramps needed to build his new pylon, part of the court’s northern and southern walls and columns (along the far west side) were taken apart. These were later rebuilt using new stones. The work was not completed and the column drums were left completely undressed. The unfinished nature of these renovations can be easily spotted at the temple today.

Construction materials: sandstone

Modern Site Photos

Documentation

Lauffray, Jean. (1970),La colonnade-propylée occidentale de Karnak dite “kiosque de Taharqa” et ses abords. Kêmi: revue de philologie et d’archéologie égyptiennes et coptes. vol. 20 , 111-164.

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

Carlotti, Jean-François. (1995),Contribution à l’ étude métrologique de quelques monuments du temple d’Amon-Rê à Karnak. Cahiers de Karnak. vol. X , 65-127.

Arnold, Dieter. (1999),Temples of the last pharaohs. New York: Oxford University Press

does natural male enhancement pills work do most male enhancement pills cause headaches top 5 male enhancement pills what penis pills make me last longer black 4k male enhancement pills in bulk affordable male enhancement pills that work male enhancement pills for high blood pressure pennywise penis enlargment pills meme where i can buy male enhancement pills does high blood pressure pills cause ed sex pills to make me last longer sex pills for both types of sex pills pills that prevent pregnancy after sex how to make manicure last longer top 10 penis enlargement pills how to last sex for longer time how to increase penis size in ayurveda how to get a bigger longer penis buy best ed pills trial pack online best erection pills otc what pills stops a male erection how to increase penis size with streching how to make your dick bigger from exercises does ed pills lower blood pressure does a penis pills work get huge penis pills secret how to increase your penis size with no pills

summer valley cbd gummies website how can i sell cbd gummy bears in ct thrive cbd gummies reviews on cbd gummies for copd just cbd gummies 250mg review cbd edibles and gummies hemp bombs gummies cbd tie dye cbd gummies 30 cbd living gummies potion cbd gummies acai cbd gummies cbd gummies where to buy near me sera cbd miracle gummies marijuana cbd gummies cbd gummies what they do cbd sour gummy bear hemp cbd gummies 10 mg hemp 25mg full spectrum cbd gummies information on cbd gummy green farm cbd gummies review cbd gold harvest gummy bears just chill cbd gummies review cbd gummy bears for depression bud pop cbd gummies pure hemp cbd gummy bears cbd gummies for headache the original cbd gummy bears cbd gummies sugar alcohol

best caffeine free weight loss pills do detox pills work for weight loss do weight loss pills show up on drug tests shark tank keto pills episode youtube big lots weight loss pills simple keto meal plan for weight loss weight loss pills in spanish poop pills for weight loss 2022 results saffire weight loss pills what to eat when to lose weight fast movies about weight loss kirsten vangsness weight loss keto fire pills safe for drug test how to lose weight in face fast obesitrol diet pills keto green smoothie for weight loss buy xenical diet pills expired diet pills unhealthy ways to lose weight fast reddit appetite suppressant diet pills that really work morning drink to lose weight fast how tp lose weight fast lose weight wedding fast how to ask for weight loss drugs nicole richie weight loss drugs pills that melt away belly fat can you lose belly fat on a recumbent bike holistic bliss keto pills