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This series of articles cover minor temple ruins on the West
Bank at Luxor (Ancient Thebes).
In part
one of this series, we briefly investigated the ruins of the Temples
belonging to Amenhotep I, Amenhotep
II, Siptah, the Colonnaded Temple of Ramesses
IV, the Ramessid Temple, the Chapel of the White Queen and the private
temple of Nebwenenef. We also listed, with links, the major temples on the West
Bank at Thebes. In part
two of this series, we explored the temples of
Ramesses IV (mortuary), Amenophis son of Hapu, Tuthmosis
II, and the North and South temples at Nag Kom Lolah. In part three of this
series, we examined the temples of Deir
el-Medina, including the Temple of Amenhotep I, the Hathor
Chapel of Seti I,
the Ptolemaic Temple of Hathor, and a small Temple of Amun. In part four, the
final article in this series, we will examine the Temple of Tuthmosis III just
to the south of the entrance to Deir el-Bahri, and the temples of Tuya and
Nefertari,
Tuthmosis IV, Wadjmose and Siptah and
Tausert (Tawasret). All but the Temple of
Tuthmosis III are very near the Ramesseum.
Tuthmosis III
 Tuthmosis III
built his mortuary temple just south of the entrance to Deir el-Bahri
on the West Bank at Luxor. He apparently began the temple early in his
reign, probably while he was still under the regency of Hatshepsut. It was most
likely also built prior to his memorial related temple within the Amun temple
complex at Karnak. It was called Henkhet-Ankh, or "Offering-Life".
Originally excavated early in the 20th century, neither that effort, nor a later
investigation provided much information about the temple complex.
We know that the enclosure walls of the temple complex were partly cut from
the rock of the area and finished off with mudbrick. We believe it also
contained a number of Osiride columns (pillars) and a chapel dedicated to
Hathor.
Interestingly, the sanctuary had a vaulted ceiling decorated with the hours of
the day and night, normally found in royal tombs in the Valley of the
Kings. The
sanctuary also featured a false door, set in the rear wall, and dedicated in the
king's name. Some investigators have also suggested that the temple had a court
with an altar to the sun god.
Tuya and Nefertari
The temple of Tuya and Nefertari
basically adjoins the northern side of the
main Ramesseum temple. Though an earlier chapel may have stood on this site, the
more modern temple was dedicated to the mother and great royal wife of Ramesses
II. Apparently the pharaoh Hakoris, who ruled during Egypt's Late Period,
destroyed the temple, but enough of the ruins survived to determine the basic
floor plan. It apparently had a bipartite design reflecting its dual
dedication.
Tuthmosis IV
 Just a little to the southwest of the Ramesseum, the mortuary temple of
Tuthmosis IV
is fronted by two pylons which opens into narrow courts and a
portico. The portico has one row of pillars and another row of columns. Beyond
the portico was a hypostyle court, which in turn lead to a transverse hall and
then the inner sanctuary and its adjoining rooms and storage annexes.
This temple is notable because it seems to have served as a model for the
temples built by Tuthmosis IV's successor, Amenhotep
III. Both Amenhotep III's
mortuary temple and the core area of the Luxor Temple both appear to follow the
general design of Tuthmosis IV's temple.
Wadjmose
 The temple of Wadjmose is a very small temple located between the Ramesseum
and the temple of Tuthmosis
IV. It was a temple built during the 18th
dynasty.
Wadjmose was a son of Tuthmosis
I. However, some Egyptologists, and notably
Stephen Quirke, have suggested that the structure may actually have been built
by Tuthmosis I himself. Though a few blocks, stele and fragments of statues have
been found at this site, little else is known about the history of this temple.
Siptah and Tausret
The temple of Siptah and Tausert
( Tawasret) lies between the temple of Tuthmosis
IV and the mortuary
temple of Merenptah. It is completely destroyed, and hardly anything is known of
the structure. Almost nothing has been found at this site, with the exception of
a few jar fragments and small stone faience plaques.
References:
Archives
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