Rock Temple Kalabsha - Beit el-Waii

On the side walls of the vestibule are a series of lively historical reliefs (casts of which are in the British Museum). Particularly notable are two scenes on the left hand wall depicting the King's triumph over the Kushites (who are represented as Negroes). In the first of these the King is sitting on the right under a canopy, while in front of him, in the lower row, high officials bring in tribute of various kinds, including in particular a tablet adorned with plants, from which are suspended hides and rings; behind them come two fettered Negroes, followed by other Negroes bearing offerings (monkeys, grayhounds, a leopard, a giraffe, an ostrich, cattle: one of the oxen has horns represented as arms, between which is the head of a Negro suing for mercy) and women with their children (one carrying her children in a basket held on her back by a strap round her forehead). In the upper row the tablet is set in front of the King, while the Governor of Nubia is rewarded with gold chains; here, too, are other articles presented as tribute (gold, rings, chairs, elephants' tusks, bows, shields, leopard skins, ebony, fans, etc.), and Negroes bring in cattle, gazelles and a lion. The second scene shows the King and his sons dashing in their chariots against the enemy, who flee to their village, situated among doum-paims. A wounded man is led by two comrades to his wife and children, who come to meet him, while another woman crouches over a fire cooking a meal.

The reliefs on the right hand wall depict the wars against the Syrians and Libyans. The first scene on the right shows the King standing on two prostrate enemies and holding three others (Syrians) by the hair, while a Prince leads in fettered Syrian and Libyan prisoners. In the second scene the King is depicted outside a Syrian fortress, on the battlements of which are men and women begging for mercy (note the woman holding her child by the arm); the King seizes one of the enemy (who holds a broken bow) by the hair to kill him; below, one of the royal Princes is beating in the door of the fortress with an axe. The third scene shows the King in his chariot pursuing the fleeing Syrians; he kills two of the enemy, while two others are bound to the shaft of his chariot. Fourth scene: the King smites a Libyan, while his dog bites the fallen foe. Fifth scene: the King seated on the right under a canopy, with his lion at his feet, while Prince Amenherunanf leads in Syrian prisoners.

From the vestibule three doors lead into the rock cut Transverse Chamber, which has two Proto-Doric columns with inscriptions on all four sides. The mural reliefs are well executed, but their subjects are of no particular interest: the King in the presence of the gods; to right and left of the side doors the King smiting enemies (a Syrian and a Kushite). The Sanctuary, which is decorated with similar reliefs, has three statues of gods, now defaced beyond recognition, against the rear wall. These rock cut chambers were also converted for Christian use.

The lower walls of the Vestibule, hewn from the rock, are still standing; the upper parts, masonry built, and the roof have disappeared. In Christian times the vestibule was used as a church, the nave and aisles of which were roofed with brick vaulting.