Taharqo Kiosk

Originally built by Taharqo - 690 BCE to 664 BCE

Other works initiated by Taharqo: Taharqo Edifice and Nilometer, Ramesses II Eastern Temple, Khonsu Temple, Western Processional Way

Other shrines: Amenhotep I Calcite Chapel, Amenhotep II Shrine, Contra Temple, Osiris Catacombs, Osiris Coptite, Osiris Heqa-Djet, Palace of Ma’at, Central Bark Shrine, Ramesses II Eastern Temple, Ramesses III Temple, Red Chapel, Sety II Shrine, Thutmose III Shrine, White Chapel, Edifice of Amenhotep II, Chapel of Hakoris, Amenhotep I Limestone Chapel, Station of the King and Corridor

Introduction

The Taharqo kiosk was located in the first court of the temple. Two rows of five large open papyrus form columns, connected by low screen walls, formed the free-standing structure. The huge distance between the two aisles suggests it must have been unroofed. Only one column now stands complete today. A calcite shrine, in situ at the center of the kiosk, must have once supported the bark of the god. The area was paved with rose granite stones. Doorways in the screen walls open to all four sides of the court.

Measurements: The building measured 20.5m wide by 29m deep. The columns were 2.99m in diameter and stood 21m high.

Phase: Taharqo

Taharqo erected an impressive limestone kiosk in the middle of the Shoshenq I court. Excavations suggest it replaced an earlier wooden kiosk on the same location. The alabaster altar is thought to pre-date the Taharqo construction, and would have belonged to this earlier building. Taharqo Kiosk in its existing state.

Later, Ptolemy IV added decoration to the kiosk’s screen walls. These included scenes of the minor deities of the regional areas of ancient Egypt, called “nomes.” The north side presented a line of nome-gods making offerings, led by the king in the red crown and the goddess of the West. The south side depicted a parallel scene; this time the king (wearing the white crown) led a procession Taharqo Kiosk of nome-gods accompanied by the goddess Neith. It may have been at this time the rose granite paving was added to the area.

The function of the Taharqo kiosk unclear, but due to its position in an open-air court, some scholars believe it functioned in the “union of the disc” ceremony. This yearly ceremony entailed bringing the cult statue of Amun-Ra out from his naos out into the sunlight to unite with the solar disc and be re-energized.

Construction materials: limestone, rose granite, calcite (“Egyptian alabaster”)

About the reconstruction model of this phase

The model of the kiosk is based on plans and axial drawings by Lauffray (1970: figs. 2, 26-33) and the axial drawings of the kiosk by Carlotti (1995: pl. XV).

Photographs of the existing columns and line drawings of the patterning of the blocks from Lauffray (1970: figs. 28-29, 32) were the basis of reconstructing the appearance of the columns.

To help highlight the lotus petal pattern at the base of the column shaft, a line drawing of this pattern by Lauffray (1970: figs. 28-29) was traced and added over the column texture and blended in. The low screen walls were given a plain stone pattern based matched in size to the remains of the walls at the temple today.

Bibliography and Sources Used for Model Construction

Carlotti, Jean-François (1995), “Contribution à l’ étude métrologique de quelques monuments du temple d’Amon-Rê à Karnak.” Cahiers de Karnak, vol. Renderings of the Kiosk as completed X, 65-127. during the reign of Taharqo.

Lauffray, Jean (1970), “La colonnade-propylée occidentale de Karnak dite “kiosque de Taharqa” et ses abords.” Kêmi: revue de philologie et d’archéologie égyptiennes et coptes, vol. 20, 111-164.

Lauffray, Jean (1975), “La colonnade proplyée occidentale de Taharqa à Karnak et les Mâts à emblème.” Cahiers de Karnak, vol. V, 77-92.

© 2008 All rights reserved. Sullivan 2008, Taharqo Kiosk. Digital Karnak. 2 Regents of the University of California.