Restauracja ściany wieńczącej nad III tarasem świątyni Hatszepsut w Deir el Bahari : z prac misji PKZ w Egipcie

• Authors: Misiorowski Andrzej

Title variants

EN

RESTORATION OF THE CAP-WALL ABOVE THE THIRD TERRACE OF THE TEMPLE OF QUEEN HATSHEPSUT ET DEIR EL BAHARI

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

Apart from archaeological explorations and investigations conducted by the Mediterranean Archaeology Center, University of Warsaw, for several years are carried put the restoration, wortkis in the Queen Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el-Bahari, West Thebes for whom are responsible Palish experts. The above works are now concentrated on the third terrace of the temple in question. The Hatshepsut Temple ils to be considered as one entirely unique with regard to its design which g re a tly dqparts from those commonly encountered in other Egyptian temples. It is a terrace temple built in tight connection with n atu ra l features of the surrounding site. The third of its three terraces is resting on the steep rock wall. Above this terrace once existed and has been preserved up to our times, however in .scarce fragments only, a stone wall which formed the rock facing being a t the same time architectural cap of the temple itself. The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut was designed as a burial temple by the architect named Sen-Mut ca. 11500 B. C. Within the compass of time it was subjected to different reconstructions u n til the Coptic period and at last seriously damaged. The restoration and investigatory works were started as fa r back as in the mid-nineteenth century (Mariette, iNaville, Wiolock, Baraize). Within the present series of works have been investigated the techniques used for erection of the cap- -watl, surveyed its original overall dimensions and architectural forms. Thanks to the fact th a t the rock terrace of about 10 metres width has been discovered and revealed it became possible to define the original wall height ranging to 8.20 m. However, the shape of its central portion still remains controversial in much the same measure as that of its south end. As the steep rock wall above the temple permanently weathered this wide rook terrace was safeguarding the temple against the falling stones and rock debris. A number of drawings have been prepared representing the alleged architectural solution once applied for th e wall cen tral portion (i.e. th a t above the sanctua ry entrance) and taking as their basis the many times encountered uniformity of constructional solutions lUsed in Egyptian structures. However, none of conceptions being th e result of the above-mentioned studies could be fully supported by facts so it has been decided to leave these fragments not rebuilt. Qnily those partionjs of cap-wall not raising doubts aie being reconstructed in their original overall dimensionls and along their original course. When studying the preserved fragments it became also possible to Obtain an explanation for a jump present a t th e wall footing. I t proved to be nothing else than a rdlic of original flooring th a t was laid on plates forming the covering of portico hall. The objective outlined for restoration of the cap-waill consisted, in addition to restoring the temple’s architectural expression, in restoring the safeguarding function of the rock terrace. To secure distinction between the authentic component p a rts .and those rebuilt and nevertheless for economical reasons all blocks used for the wall construction are made of prefabricated concrete. Their facings are executed from artificial istone having the shade similar to th a t of original stone blocks. As the raw materials for concrete production are used the Portland and white cement, sand and gravel coming from the local lime-stone. To obtain the proper stre n gth the ready blacks are carefully cured. Since the manufacturing conditions are primitive enough (wooden moulds boxes, varying ra te of concrete shrinkage, etc.) and the need exists to meet the highly rigorous tolerance requirements the methods used for manufacture are constantly improved. The free spaice .between th e wall now under construction and the rock face ils being filled with concrete. As the rock structure is easily decayed by wate r and th e space filled has the wedge-like form a number of large -sized steps, measuring about 1.50 m in the ir height and width a re farmed to secure the proper support on rook while to dampen the impacts of faffing stones and rodk debris on completion .of the cap-wall is planned to lay on the rock terrace a sand cushion about ,1.0 m thick. All the Conservation work is carried out under immediate direction of highly skilled architects being the members of expedition sent by the State Ateliers of Historic Monument Conservation whereas the scientific supervision as well as consultations and all the aid within th e Egyptological range is supplied by the Mediterranean Archaeology Center in Cairo, Both the above Course of works and the supervision and p e rsonal help lofferred by Professer K. Michałowski enable to attain in a proper way all the objectives p u t forward by the conservation programme.

Keywords

PL

świątynia królowej Hatszepsut; Kazimierz Michałowski; Deir el Bahari

• Publisher: Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa
• Journal: Ochrona Zabytków
• Year: 1971
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 183-196

Dates

published

1971

Contributors

author

Misiorowski Andrzej

• mgr inż. arch., Pracownie Konserwacji Zabytków Warszawa