 Guest prince graves of el-Kāb | ||
| El-Kāb · الكاب · Necheb · Nḫb Eileithyiaspolis · Εἰλειθυίας Πόλις | ||
| Governorate | Aswan | |
|---|---|---|
| height | 88 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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El-Kab (Arabic:الكاب, al-Kab, also Elkab; ancient Egyptian: Necheb, Nḫb; Greek: Eileithyiaspolis) is the modern Arabic name of the main cult place of the Upper Egyptian Crown goddess Nechbet. The since Old Stone Age The site, which was inhabited up to the Ptolemaic period, still has numerous legacies such as the tombs of the royal princes, temples, rock carvings and extensive city fortifications. The archaeological site is easily accessible and is only 15 kilometers north of Edfu.
background
location
The archaeological site el-Kāb is located on the east bank of the Nile in the Upper Egyptian governorate Aswan. It is located 15 km north of Edfu and 80 km south of Luxor at the mouth of the Wādī Hilāl,وادي هلالWhich is surrounded by sandstone cliffs. El-Kāb is between the villages of el-Maḥāmīd (المحاميد, 1 25 ° 8 ′ 8 ″ N.32 ° 46 '48 "E.) to the north and Nagʿ Hilāl (نجع هلال, 2 25 ° 7 ′ 17 ″ N.32 ° 48 '49 "E.) located in the south.
The city fortifications on the west side of trunk road 02 can be seen from afar. The guest prince graves and desert temples, which are accessible to tourists, as well as ticket sales are to the east of the street
The Nile, which today stretches right up to the old city fortifications, once had a lower water level and ran further west.
The remains of the former are located three and a half kilometers away on the opposite bank of the river Nechen or Hierakonpolis (الكوم الأحمر, el-Kōm el-Aḥmar, „the red hill“, 1 25 ° 5 '51 "N.32 ° 46 '46 "E.), which is not accessible to tourists. In pre- and early dynastic times, this place was the religious and political center of Upper Egypt.
importance
El-Kab has been settled since the earliest times. Rock carvings, the Negade III cemetery and mastabas as well as rock graves from the Old Kingdom bear witness to this.
El-Kab is THE place of worship of the vulture and crown goddess Nechbet, mistress of the Upper Egyptian palace of the gods. Other venerated deities are Sobek, Hathor, mistress of the entrance to the valley, Thoth, Re-Harachte, Amun and Schesemtet, the landlady of Ptolemaic Hemispeos.
Here and in a valley north of el-Maḥāmīd are soda deposits, which were of great importance in earlier times.
Research history
The English traveler Charles Perry (1698–1780) reported for the first time in 1743 about the site Caab.[1] He was followed by, among others. 1798 the scientific expedition under Napoleon, 1838–1839 the French Egyptologist Nestor L’Hôte (1804–1842) and the German Egypt expedition under Richard Lepsius (1810-1884). Extensive research was carried out by several British Egyptologists such as the late 19th and early 20th centuries James Edward Quibell (1867–1935), Archibald Henry Sayce (1845-1933), Somers Clarke (1841-1926) and Joseph John Tylor (1851-1901).
From 1937 to 1955 and since 1986 the site has been studied by Belgian scientists. Excavations are currently being carried out by an excavation team from Musées royaux d’art et d’histoire de Bruxelles (MRAH, headquarters in Brussels) carried out on site.
getting there
The journey should be by car or taxi, preferably with an off-road vehicle Edfu made from. The vehicle is advisable due to the spaciousness of the area, also because you sometimes have to take the guards to the monuments so that the monuments can be unlocked. The slopes are rocky: you have to drive slowly and carefully. For single travelers, however, there is also the option of hiring a tuktuk on site or having the guards drive you around with your motorcycle.
If you want to hike from the graves to the Ptolemaic Hemispeos or further, you should bring enough water and stamina with you.
Shared taxis run from the new bus station in Edfu (nearby, south of the train station, 1 24 ° 59 ′ 10 ″ N.32 ° 53 '33 "E.) according to el-Maḥāmīd. After about half an hour's drive, the necropolis appears on the right-hand side of the road. You should get off here.
Tourist Attractions
Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The admission price is LE 60 and LE 30 for students (as of 11/2019).
Tombs of the New Kingdom
The 2 Graves(25 ° 7 ′ 39 ″ N.32 ° 47 '55 "E) come from the New Kingdom, mostly from the 18th dynasty. As a rule, the graves are narrow and the entrance is on the south side. The burial often takes place in a separate side chamber. The colored reliefs show representations from daily life and religious scenes in the context of the burial of the tomb.
The graves described below, already visible from the street, are located next to each other and can be reached via a staircase in the east.
- Grave of Paheri, Mayors of Necheb and Inyt (Gaufürst), supreme priest of the cult in honor of the goddess Nechbet, teacher of Prince Wadjmose, scribe during grain harvests, 18th Dynasty (Thutmose III.), Grave Elkab 3. His grandfather is Ahmose, owner of the grave Elkab 5. His tomb is narrow and vaulted, and his tombs are located at the far end of the east wall. Regarding the representations, his grave is one of the most beautiful in the necropolis. On the right wall in front of his grave, the tomb lord is depicted with a hymn to the goddess Nechbet. The front part of the west wall shows in three registers scenes from agriculture (counting, threshing, tying and transporting grain; groom with chariot, plowing, sowing, hoeing) in front of the deceased, who is followed by his servants. The lower part shows the registration of cattle, donkeys and pigs before the deceased and the weighing of gold and loading onto boats in front of the tomb lord. On the back half of the wall you can see the grave lord rocking Prince Wadjmose in the presence of gift bearers. Below the grave lord can be seen with his wife in the presence of relatives and victims. The following two registers are devoted to catching fish and birds and preparing fish and poultry. At the far end of the wall, the funeral procession and rites are depicted, such as the coffin sledge train, dancers and a shrine with the statue of Anubis. On the back wall you can see the statues of the grave lord, his wife and mother. The long inscription gives the title of the grave lord. In the niche you can see the sons and daughters of the grave lord (left) and those of his father (right). The east wall shows the grave lord and his wife in front of the list of victims and his son Amenmosi as a priest. In front of them you can see a large banquet scene, victims and butchers.
- Grave of Setau, First prophet (high priest) of Nechbet, time of Ramses ’III. until Ramses IX. 20th Dynasty, grave Elkab 4. The grave dates from the Ramesside period, so it is not surprising that its design differs from the others. On the facade you can see the grave lord and his wife worshiping Re-Harachte. The west wall shows boats in front of the king in four registers and partly destroyed scenes from agriculture such as threshing grain with an ox. A hymn to Re can be seen on the back wall. The east wall shows the sacrificial grave lord and his wife and his son-in-law, Ramesesnacht, who acts as a priest in panther skin. The right entrance wall shows further sacrificial scenes.
- Grave of Ahmose, Son of Ibana, admiral, time of Ahmose, Amenophis I, Thutmose I, grave Elkab 5. The grave is important because of its inscription on the final battle against the Hyksos under Kamose and Ahmose. The grave consists of a narrow, vaulted chamber; the grave chamber is attached to the right rear wall side. On the left wall of the entrance is a list of slaves. On the west wall, Ahmose's grandson Heri-Iri with his father and mother is shown in the upper register, and Ahmose's grandson Paheri with his wife and three sons and daughters each in the lower register. The back wall shows Ahmose's grandson Paheri and relatives making sacrifices to the grave lord, his wife and his parents. The east wall shows a dedicatory inscription by his grandson Paheri at the entrance to the burial chamber, while on the front half of the wall the grave lord with staff and scepter and his grandson Paheri stand in front of his famous 31-column inscription. The records date from the time from Ahmose to Thutmose I (18th dynasty). Ahmose reports that he comes from a military family, about his marriage and the establishment of his household, his work as a soldier on various ships, the siege and fighting at Avaris, the Hyksos capital, the siege and capture of Scharuhe (in Palestine) and participating in military campaigns Nubia and Syria. Of course, he doesn't forget to describe his bravery and his prey over and over again. He concludes that he has grown old and prepared his grave, followed by a list of all the gifts he received from the kings in the course of his life.
- Grave of Reneni, Mayor, overseer of the prophet, prince and high priest, time of Amenhotep I, grave Elkab 7. His grave is also narrow and has access to his burial chamber on the rear east wall. The grave facade contains, among other things, his name. The front half of the west wall shows scenes from agriculture such as mowing, plowing, sowing, counting pigs and cattle as well as clerks, a shepherd and a calf. The back half shows a banquet in front of his grandfather Sobekhotep and his wife Idy in the presence of harpers and women clapping. The back wall shows women offering sacrifices and in the niche a statue of the grave lord in the presence of jackals. The east wall in three registers a banquet and funeral rites such as the cleaning scene and mourning women.
Temple in the east desert
- 3 Ptolemaic Hemispeos. The temple to the goddess Schesemtet is about 2 km from the road. The temple was first built under Ramses II, but was destroyed early on. The current temple was built under Ptolemy VIII and IX. rebuilt. The temple can be reached from the south via a 15 m long staircase ramp that leads to a terrace and the adjoining pillared courtyard. Even before the entrance to the rock sanctuary you can see a kiosk, the entrance of which bears images. Ptolemaic kings are shown as sacrificing to the goddesses Hathor, Nechbet and Tefneut (door lintel) and other pairs of gods (door posts). The back of the entrance contains a dedication inscription. The entrance to the Feslsanktuar (Holy of Holies) shows Cleopatra III. before the goddess Nechbet. The right wall of the sanctuary shows Ptolemy VII and Cleopatra III. in destroyed scenes before various gods. Another scene shows Ptolemy being cleansed by Thoth and Horus. On the ceiling you can see vultures with outspread wings and the cartouche of Ptolemy VII. East of the courtyard is a rock stele Ramses ’II. It shows him in front of Re-Harachte and Nechbet.(25 ° 8 ′ 4 ″ N.32 ° 49 ′ 4 ″ E)
- 4 Temple of Setau (el-Hammam). The temple was built by order of Setau, the viceroy of Kush in the time of Ramses ’II. It is dedicated to the snake-headed goddess "Ta-net-pa-u-heri", mistress of the upper district. The chapel is sometimes referred to as the Chapel of Thoth. The square sandstone chapel (edge length 6 m) is located 70 m east of the Ptolemaic Hemispeos. The door reveals and the entrance walls show the viceroy Setau. The right and left wall show Ramses II in three scenes: in front of Nechbet and two goddesses (left) and in front of Horus von Nechen, Hareoris and Thoth (right). The back wall is dedicated to the legend of the distant goddess (Onuris legend), how the eye goddess Nechbet (instead of the usual Hathor) was received by her father Atum-Re after her return from the desert. On the left you can see the sparrow-headed Atum in the presence of his mate. In front of him you can see Nechbet handing him an object (probably the eye or the uraeus). Behind her are Onuris and (sure) Thoth, on the right edge you can see two monkeys and the gods Hu and Sia.(25 ° 8 ′ 0 ″ N.32 ° 49 ′ 8 ″ E)
- 5 Temple of Amenhotep III. The temple dedicated to Hathor, mistress of the entrance to the desert valley, and Nechbet is about 5 km from the trunk road. It consists of a pillared courtyard and the adjoining sanctuary (Holy of Holies) with four 16-sided Hathor columns. On the right facade wall to the sanctuary the prince Chaemwese recognizes in front of his father Ramses II. The left entrance wall shows Amenophis III. and Thutmose IV as they both sit before sacrifices. The (left) west wall shows Amenhotep III in three scenes. in two sacrificial scenes and how he receives life from Re. On the back wall you can see in two scenes Amenhotep III making a sacrifice to the Nechbet. The east wall again shows Amenhotep III. in three scenes similar to the west wall, this time he receives life from Horus. The right entrance wall repeats the left one in terms of content.(25 ° 8 ′ 19 ″ N.32 ° 49 '43 "E)
Rock inscriptions
- Predynastic Petroglyphs and Old Kingdom inscriptions in different places, e.g. B. 6 Rock group(25 ° 8 ′ 12 ″ N.32 ° 49 ′ 27 ″ E) on the way to the temple of Amenhotep III.
Temple area on the western side of the street
The city and group of temples within the 7 Temple enclosure(25 ° 7 ′ 13 ″ N.32 ° 47 '54 "E.) with the temple of Thutmose ’III., the 8 Main temple of the Nechbet(25 ° 7 ′ 7 ″ N.32 ° 47 '52 "E.), as well as the temple of Amenophis ’II., the temple for Sobek and Thoth, and the temple of Ramses’ II. on the western side of the street is not accessible.
accommodation
Tourists usually visit el-Kāb from Luxor, Edfu or Aswan out.
trips
A visit to el-Kāb can be combined with a visit to the temple complex of Edfu connect.
literature
Graves
- : The tomb of Paheri at El Kab. In:Naville, Edouard (Ed.): Ahnas el medineh (Heracleopolis magna): with chapters on Mendes, the nome of Thoth, and Leontopolis. London: Trübner, 1894, Memoir of the Egypt Exploration Fund; 11.
- : The tomb of Paheri. London: Bernard Quaritch, 1895, Wall drawings and monuments of El Kab; [1].
- : The tomb of Renni. London: Bernard Quaritch, 1900, Wall drawings and monuments of El Kab; [4].
- : The tomb of Sebeknekht. London: Bernard Quaritch, 1896, Wall drawings and monuments of El Kab; [2].
- : La tombe de Sétaou. Turnhout: Brepols [and others], 2010, Elkab; 8th, ISBN 978-2-503-53286-8 .
temple
- : The temple of Amenhetep III. London: Bernard Quaritch, 1898, Wall drawings and monuments of El Kab; [3].
- : Les monuments religieux à l’entrée de l’ouady Hellal. Bruxelles: Fondation Égyptologique Reine Élisabeth, 1971, Elkab; 1. Ptolemaic Temple: pp. 33–67, panels 2–21, plans A, B; Temple of Setau: pp. 69–73, panels 21–33, plan C.
Rock inscriptions
- : The rock inscriptions of Wadi Hilâl. Turnhout: Brepols [et al.], 2001, Elkab; 6th, ISBN 978-2-503-51023-1 . Text and chalkboard.
Web links
- Elkab (University College London).
Individual evidence
- ↑: A View of the Levant: particularly of Constantinople, Syria, Egypt, and Greece; in which their antiquities, government, politics, maxims, manners, and customs, (with many other circumstances and contingencies) are attempted to be described and treated on; In four parts. London: Woodward et al., 1743, P. 361.
- ↑Warner, Nicholas: Saving Bayt Clarke: a Mud Brick Masterpiece by the Nile.
