Medinet Habu - Temple of Ramesses III - 18th Dynasty Temple
On the north side of the temple forecourt, between the High Gate and the main temple, is the oldest part of the whole temple complex, the elegant little 18th Dynasty Temple (peripteral), which was begun during the joint reign of Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III and completed after Tuthmosis became sole ruler. Here as elsewhere Hatshepsut's inscriptions and her figure were obliterated or replaced by others.
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The divine images and names which were destroyed by Amenophis IV/Akhenaten were restored in the reigns of Horemheb and Sethos I. The original entrance was on the east side; but the alterations and additions made by later Pharaohs (particularly by Ramesses III, who was also responsible for the reliefs on the outside walls) and during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods make it difficult to distinguish the original plan.
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18th Dynasty Temple First Court
Along the east side of the pylon, facing the First Court (130ft/39.60m long, 83ft/25.40m wide), was a colonnade, which had columns with rich floral capitals and high screens. Only the two central columns have been preserved. In front of one of the screens is a false door of red granite dating from the time of Tuthmosis III which was found in the pavement of the first pylon. The gateways into the court are now walled up; on the one to the south is an inscription in the name of the Emperor Antoninus Pius.
18th Dynasty Temple Second Court
A gateway to the north of the High Gate leads into the second court of the 18th Dynasty Temple, which lies to the left. It consists of a cella surrounded by a colonnade (added by Tuthmosis III) and six chambers to the rear, the oldest part of the building. Along the outside of the colonnade runs a parapet from which rise square pillars supporting the roof. The 16 sided columns within the colonnade were added later to prevent the collapse of the roof. The reliefs depict Tuthmosis III (in the rear chambers also Tuthmosis I and II, replacing Hatshepsut) making offerings to various gods and performing other ritual acts. On the pillars to the right and left of the entrance are inscriptions by Horemheb, Sethos I and Pinudjem recording the building work done by them. The celia, with reliefs restored after their earlier destruction, had doors (restored by Euergetes II) at both ends. In the last room on the right is an unfinished shrine in red granite. The structures on the north and south sides of the front colonnade are later additions, the one on the north side incorporating stones from earlier buildings (bearing the names of Ramesses II, Pinudjem and Achoris); note the small lattice windows and the rings on the upper parts of the columns.
The Second Court, to which we now return, dates from the Saite period, the granite gateway to the north from the early 26th Dynasty. At its east end is the Second Pylon, built by the Ethiopian ruler Shabaka and restored by Ptolemy IX Soter II, with a relief of Taharqa grasping his enemies by the hair and smiting them. The adjoining Court of Nectanebo I had four cluster columns with closed capitals, linked by screens, along each side (two columns restored) and a gateway at the east end. Some 13ft/4m east of the gateway is the large First Pylon, built in the Ptolemaic period and incorporating many stones from earlier buildings (particularly the Ramesseum). In the central doorway Ptolemy IX Soter II and Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos are depicted worshiping the gods.
The Second Court, to which we now return, dates from the Saite period, the granite gateway to the north from the early 26th Dynasty. At its east end is the Second Pylon, built by the Ethiopian ruler Shabaka and restored by Ptolemy IX Soter II, with a relief of Taharqa grasping his enemies by the hair and smiting them. The adjoining Court of Nectanebo I had four cluster columns with closed capitals, linked by screens, along each side (two columns restored) and a gateway at the east end. Some 13ft/4m east of the gateway is the large First Pylon, built in the Ptolemaic period and incorporating many stones from earlier buildings (particularly the Ramesseum). In the central doorway Ptolemy IX Soter II and Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos are depicted worshiping the gods.
