Pylon III

The inscribed decoration glorifies the jubilee (heb-sed) festival of Amenhotep III and presents the king and the god’s sacred bark on a festival journey to Luxor temple. Originally, some scenes depicted the king’s son accompanying his father, but these depictions of a young Amenhotep IV/Akhenaten were later defaced.

Amenhotep III

Amenhotep III cleared away the "festival court" of Thutmose II and the numerous pillars, bark shrines and other monuments decorating this space to construct his new pylon. These features were dismantled and used in the foundation and fill of Pylon III, where they were found (often in quite good condition) in modern times. The construction of this new pylon shifted the main temple entrance eastward, remarkable as the temple until this time had gradually moved further and further west as the pharaohs continued to expand outward. The motivation for this change in policy is unknown. Scholars working at Karnak have suggested the king intended to build a colonnade in front of the pylon, similar to the one he sponsored at Luxor temple (Carlotti and Martinez 2010:134-138).

Buildings found in the III Pylon

1 White Chapel of Sesostris I, almost completely recovered in the southern part, reconstructed in 1938 2 Pink granite pedestal in the name of Amenemhat III and Amenemhat IV (southern part) 3 Bas relief from limestone of Ahmosis and Ahmes-Nefertari (northern part) 4 Fragments of a Stela of Ahmosis 5 Rest altar of a barque from alabaster in the name of Amenophis I associated with Thutmose I), forming the foundation of the entire north-eastern part of the south pylon 6 Fragments of 2 limestone monuments of Amenophis I. One of them is a copy of the white chapel of Sesostris I. The other consists of a number of chambers that replaced Thutmose III with his, located north and south of the rooms of Hatshepsut 7 Monumental gate of limestone in the name of T II 8 Sandstone T II sills found in the northern part 9 55 blocks from the Hatshepsut red quartzite bark chapel found in the northern and southern pylon 10 Door posts limestone of Hatshepsut 11 Fragments of barque sanctuary in Alabaster from T III 12 Relief of an archery Amenhotep II, Luxor Museum 13 Ceiling from Alabaster of Amenophis II found in the southern pylon 14 Rest chapel of the alabaster barque of T IV associated with Amenophis III 15 Monument with sandstone pillars of T IV found in the northern part 16 Fragments of door jambs from a limestone gate Amenophis II 17 Fragment of a beld of Amenhtep II Height 21 cm. Cairo Museum 18 228 sandstone parts of the 'Festival Hall' of Thutmose IV 19 11 fragment calcite monument to Tutmose IV 20 Alabaster chapel from Hatnoeb, bronze (from Asia) doors with images from electum

Vestibule III Pyloon

Amenhotep IV/Akhenaten

Akhenaten helped finish the decoration of his father's pylon and added (or completed) the vestibule/porch to the gate's west face. Relief scenes on the vestibule depicted Akhenaten in both traditional style and pose – as triumphant King smiting his enemies. The gate’s decoration remained unfinished, however, seemingly a casualty of the king's shift in focus to east Karnak. Construction materials: sandstone Measurements: Pylon 3 measures 28m tall.

Obelisks / Shelter

B.11

a/b The (oldest) set of obelisks for the fourth pylon (TII) Only the foundations found under the 3rd pylon c The disappeared northern obelisk (TIII) (Fragments found in the square and in the corner of Philipus Arrideus) d The disappeared southern (TIII) (Fragments found in the square?) e The northern obelisk, just a slanted broken off piece, still standing upright in 1743 by Pococke, probably left without inscriptions by TI and later engraved by TIII f The intact southern part of the set of obelisks for the fourth pylon (TI) 4 sides; cartouches with lines of text TI in middle register. Height 19.6 / width base 1.84 / width top 1.65 m Cartouches and lines text RIV and VI in outer registers. g/h Foundations of the two columns of the gilded roof for the fourth pylon (TIV) i Foundations Amenhotep II chapel. >>>> OUTDOOR MUSEUM j Piece of an obelisk

?? B.11.A

Top register destroyed 3rd register scenes related to the renewal of the royal powers A King is accompanied by the souls / spirits of Pe and Nekhen, he receives the welcome from a goddess while

Thot writes down the royal jubiles B King followed by goddess receives the emblems (Ÿ) and (^) from Amon behind which Chonsou stands Pylon III 32 4 – Pylons & courts III-IV-V-VI

C King offers flowers to Amon Re Ithyphalliqu followed by a goddess D King presents sacrifices for the barque in which a king stands (Seti I) E Chnoum makes the royal child on his potter's wheel in front of a goddess The child is depicted alone, unlike in the Luxor temple where his Ka is present. (The location of the image is exactly above the Persea scene) F Royal child is fed by a goddess in front of Amun (and Chonsu?)

2nd register rituals at the coronation A King crowned with Atef leads the 4 cattle for Amon Re Kamoutef Ithyphalliqu B (Schw 76) King kneeling bare-headed on the (sma-taouy). Horus, great Neter, Master of Mesent, and Thot, Master of the city of the Eight, unite the two lands north and south under the two feet before the king, and assure him the kingdom of the double Horus (Horus of the north and Seth of the South) C King crowned with Atef kneeling before Amun and Neith seated under a canopy. (Amon lazy remet les jubiles).

Behind the king, the goddess Mout-Ouret-hekaou is lion-headed holding the jubilee years D (Schw 74) king with red crown performs the ritual course of "the big step" with the vases, accompanied by a bull for Amon Re Kamoutef (Ithyphalique). E King, and priest Iounmoutef present offerings to the image of his father Osiris Seti I in his naos F King crowned with the atef, consacre the 4 suitcases a bandets of ribbons / strips (mryt) for Amon Re G (Sch 73) Ramses II seated on his throne with the double crown (the white one for the red one !!) and the royal stanchions (not crossed !!). Female Neters on both sides. In the east Nekhebit de Witte, mistress of the south assures the king her protection by "uniting with his limbs" and "his rejuvenation of the image from the disk Aton in the sky ". In the west is Ouadjit mistress of the north. Behind Ouadjit stands Thot who puts the king on the red crown and confirms his divine origin and his government justifies like his father Horus son of Isis.

Behind Nekhebit is Horus van Behedet who offers the king the white crown and assures him that he is due both the red and the white crown and that he appears as Horus. H King remets his name to Amon Re Ithyphalliqu (from Luxor?)

1st register, the purification of the barks and the consecration of the divine names A King crowned with the kheprech burns incense for the 3 sacred barks which stand still on their resting altar, behind the barks the king Seti

I 1/2/3 BOATS B King crowned with the double crown presents the sacred animals to Amun Re and Neith C Royal ascent between Montou and Atoum D (Sch 72) PERSEA TREE The king is accompanied by Toum master of Heliopolis and by Mentou master of Thebes, to the sanctuary of his father Amon. King is crowned with the kheprech kneeling in the Persea tree with the fence and the neckhakha in his left hand on his shoulder and in the right hand he supports the symbols of the Sed festival which Amun offers him sitting in his naos. Behind the king stands Thot master of the Eight and god of writing, he writes the name of Ramses II on the fruits of the Persea boat Above the king in the left cartouche the short name of Ramses II Ouser-Maat-Re. Above it the winged solar disk "with multicolored feathers, great Neter of Behedet (Edfou)

B.12 REAR (FRONT) WALL III PYLON

Scene of the OESERHAT BARK drawn by the king's barque

Top part of the pylon disappeared Large scene next to the entrance of Amenhotep III, of which the feet and h.e.e.a. can be seen In the middle we see a pavilion (?) on a stage (decorated with anch, djed and >> signs), sitting on the right side a deity (Amon?), standing behind him a goddess (Must?), behind the goddess a male figure facing the other side. Right next to the podium in front of the deity a female person (?). Below this representation are rectangular holes that are the must for glazed tiles. Bottom register of Ramses III, remnant of lines and reliefs In addition to the large scene, an offering of four bulls bound together, a number of lines of text and the king. Among them the beginning of three registers of heavily damaged texts of Ramses III

Bark of the king:

Ribbons hang from the bow. In the foreground the King trampling his enemies before a deity, 25 standing rowers, with the remains of a mast with tarp (s) visible above them, for the rowers three servants who pay tribute to the pharaoh. King looks back at how the Oeserhat barque fares, with a mate with large straps on the stern Ram heads with collars on the front and back and on the head a sun Two damaged goddesses (Hator and Maat?) Standard with a standing jackal, Wepwawet 'opener of the road' Superposition, see also below Original depiction of Amenhotep IV / Akhenaten behind King Amenhotep III (co-regent?), later replaced by a sacrificial table King with offerings for the god's shrine, a flower arrangement in his left hand and an incense burner in the right For him a smaller figure with a 'sechem' scepter and vase, added later (19 dynasty) In front of the shrine are: standard (with falcon head?), Obelisks and flagpoles

Pylon III 33 4 – Pylons & courts III-IV-V-VI

The shrine of the Oeserhat barque.

At the bottom left three figures, kneeling in the 'henoe' position, A representation of the predynastic kings, the 'baoe' of Nechen (Hierakonpolis). Right kneeling six (seventh) sacrificial bearers. / In the shrine on the left is a representation of the King in the rowing hall for Amun, with offerings above and next to it. Right King with offerings for Amun / In the middle of the piece King with staff and 'sechem' scepter for Min / At the top, destroyed, the carrier for the god-bar Behind the shrine is the king again, now with an oar / Superposition, see also earlier / Original depiction of Amenhotep IV / Echnaton behind King Amenhotep III (co-regent?), Later replaced by Anch's sign with fan in hands / On the stern of the ship a number of poles with the steering belts with behind a ram's head

On the side of the barque 18 performances 1 Amon sitting on a chair (destroyed. 2 Udjat's eye 3 King in rowing race for Amun, with oar and 'hepet'? sign. 4 King with incense offering for Amon Min Ithyphalique 5 King with white bread for Amun. 6 King with vases of wine for Amun. 7 King with ofers for Amun 8 The Oeserhat barque with Wepwawet, obelisks and flagpoles, while the King stands on the back 9 King is led by Mentu to Amun, who holds up the Anch sign to him. 10 King, with staff, offers Amon 'sechem' scepter and offerings 11 King offers offerings to Amun in the form of Min Ithphalique. 12 Corrected image of Amun receiving a sacrifice of vases 13 King offers a statue of Maat to Amun. 14 King with Anch and Djed column kneeling before Amun 15 King gives bouquets to Amun. 16 King with left goddess Must for seated Amun, possibly coronation ceremony (damaged) 17 King offers vases of wine to Amun. 18 King offers vases of wine to Amun, while he gets back Anch and the like

B.13 Behind (front) wall III pylon

King censing and libating to [Theban Triad], remains of 71 columns of Amenophis III architectural text with a list of gifts to Amin. Wall of the south wing of the third pylon, here too the upper part has disappeared. On the far left representation of King Amenhotep III, in the left hand three incense burners, in the right hand a libation on two altars. The representation is partly hidden behind the later wall (B.14) of Ramses IX In addition, 71 vertical lines of text, of which only the last part of each line is left, including the silver floor. Below the text three horizontal register text, top (small) of Ramses II, bottom two Ramses III On the far left is a large representation of the Theban triad, completely lost. Underneath (must) holes for the glazed tiles. Stela (Ramesside) on the right end with the remains of endowment text of gifts to Amun. Basic Three lines of text, at the top one of Ramses II, others of Ramses III, Scene Right end Ramses III - 1 offer [wine?] To Amun - 2 who offered a sphinx jar from the sphinx to Monthu, - 3 offering to Chonsu - 4 censorship to a goddess.

Porte Ramses IX

B.14. Wall / gate R IX

Later wall of Ramses IX (with a bulge at the gate). Gate whose deck cover has been restored. To the left of the gate relief: King in the middle, to his right two gods. On the left the Theban triad a/a' Bases of two sandstone sphinxes, usurped by Merneptah, text on one B 2 registers: 1 4 scenes / 1 Ramesses IX offering image of Macet to Thoth -/ 2 With Sefkhet-cabu writing, offering vase to Amon / 3 offering incense to Amon( ?) and goddess / 4 Led by a god and Re Harakhti to Amon and goddess 2 5 scenes, - 1 King offering incense and water to Ptah / 2 Standing before Onuris-Shu / 3 Purified by Thoth and a god / 4 Before Amon / 5 Before Theban Triad C 2 register: 1 3 scenes, 1 Destroyed / 2 Ramesses IX, with goddess, before god and goddess / 3 King offering shrine to Amon and goddess / 2 3 scenes r > l - 1 King running with !zes-vases to Amnn / 2 With Thoth, offering flowers to Amnn / 3 Offering libation to Theban Triad

D Poort Outer lintel, double-scene, King running with bull to Theban Triad, Doors: King offering wine, natron, and flowers, to Amon, with name of door at bottom. 1 3 registers, - 1 King offering incense to Ptah / 2 Standing before Monthu and goddess, / 3 Receiving !zeb-sed from Amon and Ament. Right Cartouche-decoration and King facing in with bouquet of Amon. 2 3 registers - 1 King anointing a god, / 2 Standing before Re Harakhti, / 3 Seceiving !zeb-sed from Amon and [goddess?]. Left Cartouchedecoration and King facing in with bouquet of Amon. 3 3 registers, - 1 King before [god], / 2 Offering ointment to Min, / 3 Prince offering flowers to Amon (Amon destroyed), with name of door at bottom. Nis Two columns of text of RIX. 4 3 registers - 1 King offers Nemset-vessel (god destroyed) - 2 Offering ointment to Min - 3 King offering flowers to Amon E RIX, with two gods, before Theban Triad, with dedication text below F Ramesses IX before Chonsu G Corridor RII, Usurped from Toetmosis Ill. Receiving life from Amon, with name of door at bottom. / Ptolemy III and Berenice II] before Hatthor-Isis with small Nefertem and Harpocrates [latter added by Ptolemy IV and Arsinoe Ill). / King before Mut, and before Wast with bow and arrows. / King receiving life from Amon. / Royal titles. H Five scenes; 1 Ramses II offering the image of Macet toAmon / 2 ointment vases for Isis, / 3 food for Amun / 4 incense and libation for Harsiesi / 5 sphinx ointment jar to Amun. Basic, two lines of text, Ramses II and III, which are included in the bottom line.

Pylon III 34 4 – Pylons & courts III-IV-V-VI