Susanne Bickel - Egyptological Seminar Basel -
in cooperation with the Centre franco-égyptien d'étude des temples de Karnak
Subproject 1:
The storage facility
Partly still in their secondary use in the Second Pylon, partly located in various stone deposits of Karnak, 55 sandstone blocks are currently accessible which can be assigned to the storage complex of Karnak. One block contains the designation of the outermost and largest passage: "Gate of Nebmaatre, the image of Re (named) 'Extension of the Storehouse of Amun'". The different scene widths indicate the existence of three stone passages, which corresponds to contemporary representations in Theban private tombs. The sacrificial recipient throughout is the god Amun. The sublime relief is characterized by its extraordinary plasticity. Most of the scenes relate to the offering of flowers and fresh produce. The extraordinary style of the representations, as well as iconographic details that refer to the last decade of the king's reign, express opulence and abundance.
Also belonging to the economic complexes of the time of Amenhotep III are the remains of theSchena workshop, rebuilt in the so-called Temple of Amenhotep II, rebuilt under Haremhab, between the Ninth and Tenth Pylons. The passage to the "Schena of Nebmaatre, the image of Re (named) 'Amun is rich in food'" was restored under Tutankhamun.
Subproject 2:
The Sed-Fest reliefs
The front and upper sections of the Chonsu Temple were constructed of large-scale reused sandstone blocks. Scenes from a Sed-Fest cycle of Amenhotep III are visible on 73 blocks that are currently fully or partially accessible. Other blocks exhibited in the open-air museum belong to the same ensemble. The representations are worked in very fine raised relief and feature a scene repertoire comparable to and complementary to that in the temple of Soleb. The module and orientation of the scenes suggest that this material was taken from the mortuary cult temple of Amenhotep III on the west bank in the 20th Dynasty and reused at Karnak. Small fragments are known from the peristyle courtyard of the Amenophion, attesting to the presence of an extended sed-fest cycle.
Publication:
" Amenhotep III à Karnak. L'étude des blocs épars ", Bulletin de la Société française d'égyptologie 167, 2006, 12-32.
The complete publication of the storage facility and the Sed-Fest reliefs is in preparation.
Subproject 3:
The North Tower of the Third Pylon
In preparation is the epigraphic recording and analysis of the east facade of the north tower of the Third Pylon built under Amenhotep III. This contains the depiction of the temple ship of Amun, which transported the processional barque and is in turn decorated with sacrificial scenes. The previously unpublished monumental scene is particularly interesting because of the combination of different pictorial levels. In addition, several revisions of certain parts of the relief took place, which will be subjected to a detailed study.