Amenhotep II Shrine
Originally built by Amenhotep II - 1427 BCE to 1401 BCE Destroyed by: Amenhotep III - 1390 BCE to 1352 BCE
Other works initiated by Amenhotep II: Edifice of Amenhotep II, Station of the King and Corridor, Wadjet Hall, Pylon and Festival Court of Thutmose II
Other works destroyed by Amenhotep III: Thutmose IV Peristyle Hall, Obelisks of Festival Hall West Pair, White Chapel, Amenhotep I Limestone Chapel, Pylon and Festival Court of Thutmose II
Other shrines: Amenhotep I Calcite Chapel, 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, Taharqo Kiosk, Thutmose III Shrine, White Chapel, Edifice of Amenhotep II, Chapel of Hakoris, Amenhotep I Limestone Chapel, Station of the King and Corridor
Introduction
The small calcite shrine of Amenhotep II was a rectangular structure with a roof and a single entrance door, opening to the east. Preserved fragments of the chapel show that the interior and exterior sides, as well as the front door jambs included finely cut registers of sunk relief. The chapel is currently reconstructed in the “open air museum” at Karnak using fragments discovered at the Amun and Mut temples.
Measurements: The chapel measures 4.5m across, 5.2m deep, and 6.35m high.
Phase: Amenhotep II
Recent study of the structure suggests it may have been situated between the eastern most pair of obelisks in “festival hall” of Thutmose II. The shrine’s single door would have opened to the east.
Construction materials: white calcite (“Egyptian alabaster”)
Destruction: Amenhotep III
When Amenhotep III disassembled the “festival court” of Thutmose II for Amenhotep II Shrine in its existing state. Amenhotep II Shrine
the construction of the third pylon, he dismantled the shrine and used part of it as fill. Other fragments of the chapel must have remained at Karnak, as Ramesses II reused its interior north and south walls for his “dedication stela” and his “marriage stela,” both set up at the nearby Mut Temple.
About the reconstruction model of this phase
None of the remaining relief decoration or later Ramesside inscriptions that can be seen today on the reconstructed chapel were reproduced on the model.
The chapel was reconstructed based on the drawings and dimensions provided by Van Siclen (1986: pls. 2-3). Its location and orientation on the model follow the suggestions by Larché (2007: 477-480).
The chapel was given a plain white calcite pattern, created using photographs of the stone from Karnak.
It should be noted that after the model was completed, a new hypothesis for its placement at the temple was offered by Carlotti (2008). He argues that the shrine would have originally stood within the court of the seventh pylon, in a small hall created by the addition of a newly identified east/ west running wall bisecting the court (not shown on the model). Following his reconstruction, the chapel would have stood against the west wall of the court, opening inward. A second chapel, made of red granite, mirrored it on the east side of the hall. Both structures were flanked by short partition walls, creating small rooms along the sides of each chapel. Both sides of the court would have been roofed by a pillared portico. Renderings of Amenhotep II Shrine.
Bibliography and Sources Used for Model Construction
Carlotti, Jean-François (2008), “Le mur fantôme de la « cour de la Cachette » du temple d’Amon-Rê à Karnak.” Bibliothèque d’étude, vol. 143, 55-66.
Larché, François (2007), “Nouvelles observations sur les monuments du Moyen et du Nouvel Empire dans la zone centrale du temple d’Amon.” Cahiers de Karnak, vol. XII, 407-592.
Van Siclen, Charles (1986), The Alabaster Shrine of King Amenhotep II. San Antonio: Brooklyn Museum.
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