The Temple of Hibis is the largest and best preserved ancient Egyptian temple in the Kharga Oasis, as well as the only structure in Egypt dating to the Saite-Persian period (664–404 BCE) which has come down to modern times in relatively good condition. Located about 2 km north of Kharga,[1] it was devoted to a syncretism of two local forms of the deityAmun: "Amun of Hibis" and "Amun-Ra of Karnak who dwells in Hibis".[2]
The temple of Hibis was once surrounded by the city of Hibis (Egyptian: Hebet, meaning "the plough"[1]), which nowadays lies under the crops.[2] Construction of the temple started during the 26th Dynasty, most likely under PharaohPsamtik II,[2] or possibly even earlier, during the 25th Dynasty.[1] Archaeological evidences suggest that an older temple, dating back to the New Kingdom, was already present in the same place.[2] Several decades after Psamtik II, during the 27th Dynasty, the Achaemenid pharaoh Darius I took a particularly active part in its building, being credited of the decoration of the walls.[1][6] Later, several other rulers made additions or decorations here, such as Hakor of the 29th Dynasty, notably Nectanebo I and Nectanebo II of the 30th Dynasty, possibly Ptolemy IV (Ptolemaic Dynasty), and at least one Roman emperor.[2]
A first excavation campaign, organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York, took place in 1909–11. A more recent one, led by Eugene Cruz-Uribe, began in 1985.[2]
Description
Plan of the Temple of Hibis
The temple bears a close resemblance – both architecturally and regarding inscribed texts – to Theban temples of the New Kingdom and also of the Ptolemaic period,[2] yet it differs from both because of some peculiarities, such as the rather bold style of the decorations.[6][1]
A long hallway, lined with sphinxes, crosses a series of pylons and arrives to the proper temple. This was originally surrounded by a lake, now long-gone.[1] The hypostyle hall has its walls shaped like huge papyrus rolls, bearing various decorations and several hymns dedicated to the deity Amun, many of which are known since earlier times.[6] Among the decorations, notable is a depiction of Seth defeating Apep, a theme believed by some art historian to be a foreshadowing of Saint George and the Dragon.[1] The walls and the roof are dedicated to the Theban theology and to Osiris respectively, while the naos is subdivided in nine registers, fully decorated with a pantheon of Egyptian deity and royal figures, for a total of almost 700 figures. At the beginning of each register, the king is depicted while performing a ritual; the Egyptian nomoi are also present, each one represented in an Osirian form. In stark contrast with the richness of these representations, the accompanying inscriptions are brief, when not absent at all.[6]
The relatively good preservation of the Temple of Hibis may be attributed to its seclusion. However, since several decades the building is endangered by a rise of ground water which is damaging its foundations, and the Egyptian Antiquities Service was taking into consideration a complete dismantling and relocation of the whole temple.[7]
^ abcdefgCruz-Uribe, Eugene (1999). "Kharga Oasis, Late period and Graeco-Roman sites". In A. Bard, Cathryn (ed.). Encyclopedia of Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. London and New York: Routledge. p. 488. ISBN0-203-98283-5.
^Strudwick, Helen (2006). The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. pp. 94–95. ISBN978-1-4351-4654-9.
^Wallis Budge, E. A. (1920). An Egyptian hieroglyphic dictionary: with an index of English words, king list and geological list with indexes, list of hieroglyphic characters, coptic and semitic alphabets, etc. Vol. 2. John Murray. p. 1012b.
^Gauthier, Henri (1927). Dictionnaire des Noms Géographiques Contenus dans les Textes Hiéroglyphiques. Vol. 4. p. 4.
^ abcdZivie-Coche, Christiane (2008). "Late Period Temples". In Wendrick, Willeke (ed.). UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology. Los Angeles: UCLA. pp. 7–8.
Winlock, Herbert E. (1941). The Temple of Hibis in el Khargeh Oasis (= Publications of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Egyptian Expedition, 13). New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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temple, hibis, largest, best, preserved, ancient, egyptian, temple, kharga, oasis, well, only, structure, egypt, dating, saite, persian, period, which, come, down, modern, times, relatively, good, condition, located, about, north, kharga, devoted, syncretism, . The Temple of Hibis is the largest and best preserved ancient Egyptian temple in the Kharga Oasis as well as the only structure in Egypt dating to the Saite Persian period 664 404 BCE which has come down to modern times in relatively good condition Located about 2 km north of Kharga 1 it was devoted to a syncretism of two local forms of the deity Amun Amun of Hibis and Amun Ra of Karnak who dwells in Hibis 2 The hallway with pylons leading to the hypostyle hall It is alternatively believed to be dedicated to Amun and Osiris its sanctuary contains depictions of hundreds of Egyptian deities 3 Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory Edit Palmiform columns at the Temple of Hibis hb t The City of the Plough 4 5 Era Late Period 664 332 BC Egyptian hieroglyphsThe temple of Hibis was once surrounded by the city of Hibis Egyptian Hebet meaning the plough 1 which nowadays lies under the crops 2 Construction of the temple started during the 26th Dynasty most likely under Pharaoh Psamtik II 2 or possibly even earlier during the 25th Dynasty 1 Archaeological evidences suggest that an older temple dating back to the New Kingdom was already present in the same place 2 Several decades after Psamtik II during the 27th Dynasty the Achaemenid pharaoh Darius I took a particularly active part in its building being credited of the decoration of the walls 1 6 Later several other rulers made additions or decorations here such as Hakor of the 29th Dynasty notably Nectanebo I and Nectanebo II of the 30th Dynasty possibly Ptolemy IV Ptolemaic Dynasty and at least one Roman emperor 2 A first excavation campaign organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York took place in 1909 11 A more recent one led by Eugene Cruz Uribe began in 1985 2 Description Edit Plan of the Temple of Hibis The temple bears a close resemblance both architecturally and regarding inscribed texts to Theban temples of the New Kingdom and also of the Ptolemaic period 2 yet it differs from both because of some peculiarities such as the rather bold style of the decorations 6 1 A long hallway lined with sphinxes crosses a series of pylons and arrives to the proper temple This was originally surrounded by a lake now long gone 1 The hypostyle hall has its walls shaped like huge papyrus rolls bearing various decorations and several hymns dedicated to the deity Amun many of which are known since earlier times 6 Among the decorations notable is a depiction of Seth defeating Apep a theme believed by some art historian to be a foreshadowing of Saint George and the Dragon 1 The walls and the roof are dedicated to the Theban theology and to Osiris respectively while the naos is subdivided in nine registers fully decorated with a pantheon of Egyptian deity and royal figures for a total of almost 700 figures At the beginning of each register the king is depicted while performing a ritual the Egyptian nomoi are also present each one represented in an Osirian form In stark contrast with the richness of these representations the accompanying inscriptions are brief when not absent at all 6 The relatively good preservation of the Temple of Hibis may be attributed to its seclusion However since several decades the building is endangered by a rise of ground water which is damaging its foundations and the Egyptian Antiquities Service was taking into consideration a complete dismantling and relocation of the whole temple 7 See also EditList of ancient Egyptian sites including sites of templesReferences Edit a b c d e f g Wilkinson Richard H 2000 The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt New York Thames amp Hudson p 236 ISBN 0 500 05100 3 a b c d e f g Cruz Uribe Eugene 1999 Kharga Oasis Late period and Graeco Roman sites In A Bard Cathryn ed Encyclopedia of Archaeology of Ancient Egypt London and New York Routledge p 488 ISBN 0 203 98283 5 Strudwick Helen 2006 The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt New York Sterling Publishing Co Inc pp 94 95 ISBN 978 1 4351 4654 9 Wallis Budge E A 1920 An Egyptian hieroglyphic dictionary with an index of English words king list and geological list with indexes list of hieroglyphic characters coptic and semitic alphabets etc Vol 2 John Murray p 1012b Gauthier Henri 1927 Dictionnaire des Noms Geographiques Contenus dans les Textes Hieroglyphiques Vol 4 p 4 a b c d Zivie Coche Christiane 2008 Late Period Temples In Wendrick Willeke ed UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology Los Angeles UCLA pp 7 8 Wilkinson pp 236 244 Further reading EditWinlock Herbert E 1941 The Temple of Hibis in el Khargeh Oasis Publications of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Egyptian Expedition 13 New York Metropolitan Museum of Art External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Temple of Hibis The temple of Hibis on touregypt netCoordinates 25 28 37 N 30 33 22 E 25 47694 N 30 55611 E 25 47694 30 55611 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Temple of Hibis amp oldid 1070578796, wikipedia, wiki, book, 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