Pylon VIII

Hatshepsut's eighth pylon was the first of the still remaining pylons added to the temple's southern processional route. It may have replaced a mud brick pylon that once stood on the same spot. While it served as the southern entrance, statues of Thutmose II, Amenhotep I with Ahmose-Nefertari, and Amenhotep II were erected along its southern face. The original decoration of the queen is now mostly lost, as it was subject to a series of later recarvings by Thutmose III, Amenhotep II, Tutankhamen, and Sety I. The south face now shows Amenhotep II smiting Egypt's enemies, while the north face depicts the king interacting with the gods and a procession of the sacred bark (possibly during the Opet Festival). Construction materials: sandstone / Measurements: Pylon VIII measured 21m high. It was 47.7m in length and 9.3m in width.

G.5.1 Pylon wall

3 registers: 1e - toetmosis 11 and HIatshepsut with renewal-texts of Seti I, three scenes, / 1 Bark of Amon carried by priests, / King led by Monthu/King presented by Wert-l).ekau to Ami1n and Chonsu, with Thoth writing on beb-sed wands at left end. / 2e - Ramesses Ill, four scenes, / 1 purified by Thoth and Horus, / 2 Crowned by Atum and Rec-I;Iarakhti / 3Led by Chonsu and Mut/ 4 Receiving l,zeb-sed from Amon and Ament. / 3e - Ramesses Ill, eight scenes, / 1 with Mut, offering image of Macet to Amon, / 2 offering water to Chonsu, / 3 offering wine to Mendes, / 4 censing and libating to Amon and Chonsu / 5 / With Thoth, offering image of Ma(et to Re(-~arak.hti and Iuscas, / 6 With Buto, offering water(?) to Atum and ~atl).or, / 7 With Wert-l).ekau, offering Heb-sed to Amon and Mut, / 8 Offering wine to Onuris-Shu and Tefnut. G.5.2 Door posts a / b Remnants of pedestals for statues (?)

VEILED: Amun-Ra grants Jubilees to R II, Inside the Gateway, the scene became the object of popular piety and was Enshrined, pilgrims couges attest to its popularity G.5.3 Pylon wall

76 PETER J. BRAND

Figure 5.24. Amun-Ra Grants Jubilees to Ramesses II. Relief inside Gateway of Karnak Eighth Pylon. The Scene Became the Object of Popular Piety and Was Enshrined. Pilgrims’ Gouges Attest to Its Popularity

Under 15 large holes, in the middle 2 x 32 Left 2 registers / 1 toetmosis 1 led by Wert Hekau to Hathor making nini, with bark of Amon carried by priests behind the King. / 2 toetmosis I before The ban Triad, with text thanking Amon for accession of Hatshepsut (later changed to toetmosis II). Right 2 registers. / 1 Seti I before Amon, with lesser Ennead. / 2 Seti I, with renewal-text, offering wine to Amon with Great Ennead - Lower register on the right; TI presents 20 lines of text to the Theban Triad, edited by Hatshepsut in homage to their father. - Upper register Right; Holy barque supported by priests, Middle; King is introduced by the Great Magician '(lion-headed) and Hathor Left; King with White crown for Amun. On the far left 15 Neters in 3 rows. On the outside of the door jamb title with cartouches toetmosis II G.5.4 Side pylon with passage to stairs. Passage door decorated on the sides with texts, on the top a lintel with two kneeling priests Roy and Romei (one person) adoration towards two destroyed cartouches. Above that, an offering to seated Amun to the right of the passage. A large space with texts dating from the time of Seti II, and two priests, Romei-Roi and his son Baken Chonsu in adoration. Relief at the top: Mirrored Amons, with Chonsu and Malt behind them G.5.5 East wall pylon with two flagpoles Image in the center with Amenhotep II in ceremonial slaughter of captives, but standing upright!

Figure 5.26. Processional Bark of Amun-Ra. Crude Graffito Scratched by Pilgrim on North Wall of Karnak Hypostyle Hall (after Epigraphic Survey 1985, pl. 50)

G.5.6 Statues for the pylon

a Amenophis IIJ, restored by toetmosis IV, destroyed except part of throne and base, and statuette of Queen Ti b Amenophis I with restoration-text of toetmosis Ill, year 22, on throne, c Statuette of Aj / MerytAmon [daughter of Thutmose Ill], east of it. d Stela, granite, base in situ, and replaced fragments of top with double-scene, Amenophis II offering wine to Amon. e Toetmosis II, lower part, quartzite, restored by toetmosis Ill in year 42 with [statuette of Princess Mutnefert] by right leg. Red quartzite from Gebel Ahmar on culture and side and throne cartouches Thutmose II. f (?) Extended door jambs. /. g (?) h Thutmose 11, limestone, restored by toetmosis Ill in year 22. Text on belt / i remain pedestal. / j remainder of the plinth k Rameside block of King in the tree with Neters writing his name. Sides with unfinished reliefs Amon Gate with relief of Ramses II with scepter Hek and Nekhakha on the shoulder, receiving (Panegyries) from Amun l Stele Tuthankhamon (?) G.5.7 Western wall pylon with two flagpoles Image in the center with Amenhotep II in ceremonial slaughter of captives, but standing upright! G.5.8 Gate in wall next to the pylon Performances in three registers, cut in half due to the passage / Bottom: Priests with flowers and fat cattle / Middle: Priests with flowers / top: Pylon with flagpoles (Luxor)