The Temple of Abydos

Introduction
• A sacred site located on the west bank of the Nile, about 50 km
south of the modern Sohag.
• It follows Markaz El- Baliana, El Araba el-Madfouna. It is the
main cult centre of Osiris, and it flourished from the Pre-dynastic
period until the Coptic period. Abydos also was the religious
capital of the 8th nome of Upper Egypt.
• The name of Abydos in ancient Egyptian language was "ᴈbdḏw"
and become Abydos in Greek and the Arabic language.
 The Importance of Abydos
(1) It was the main cult centre of the god of dead
“Khentamentiu", in the form of a black Jackal. This god
was then associated with Osiris, the supreme god of dead
in ancient Egypt. Then the cult of Osiris became the main
cult of Abydos.
(2) It was believed that the head of Osiris was buried here
at Abydos. For this reason , Abydos became the main site
of pilgrimage, especially for the dead to get the blessings
of Osiris.
(3) Kings, queens and nobles as early as the 1st Dynasty
had their own tombs or symbolic burials at Abydos to be
in the neighbourhood of Osiris.
The Temple of Seti I
• The builders of this temple were: Seti I, Ramses II and Mernptah
(19th Dynasty).
• The material was a mixture of limestone and sandstone. It was
dedicated to the cult god Osiris and his triad, Isis and Horus. The
temple was regarded as a piece of work and one of the most
precious temples for many reasons:
(1) It is a record for the historical, archaeological, artistic and
religious state of ancient Egypt, especially at this glorious period.
(2) Its unique and abnormal L-Shaped design, which was not done
on purpose but to avoid the existence of the Osirion at the
western side, if any successor wanted to have his own addition.
(3) It is regarded as a cult temple for god Osiris.
(4) The Sanctuary here is very characteristic, including 7 chapels,
and not 3 as usual (Osiris, Isis, Hours, Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah
and Seti I).
(5) The central chapel belongs to Amun- Ra and not Osiris, as
Amun Ra was the chief of all gods, as early as the New
Kingdom.
(6) Seti I himself had his own chapel among the deities, which
still a question, if he was deified or venerated here, or he just
wanted to benefit from being in their neighbourhood.
(7) The temple includes the famous "Abydos list" in the so-
called ancestor corridor, listing, the kings from Narmer till Seti
I, excluding the kings of the Intermediate periods, Amarna
period and female rulers.
(8) It includes scenes of special interest, the erection of Djed
pillar of Osiris, presenting the ka-statue in the from of a
sphinx, the resurrection of god Osiris, the most complete and
preserved every-day ritual service of the gods statues.
The portico
hypostyle
Second hypostyle
 The Gateway of the First Pylon.

• The gateway of the First Pylon, had a name which was

inscribed at the bottom of its outer jambs and reads,
"The great gateway called 'King of Upper and Lower
Egypt User-maat-Ra-Setep-in-Ra' makes Benefactions
in the Palace of Eternity.“
• However, Merenptah the son of Ramesses II, could not
be satisfied with this lengthy name so he gave it
another one. He had it inscribed below that of his
father; this was "The great gateway called 'Ba-en-Ra-
Mery-Amun' is beloved of Osiris Lord of Eternity."
•
• Seti I really was the real builder and this was
proved in 1954 when excavation by the
Antiquities Department of Egypt uncovered
his cartouche inscribed on the south-eastern
and south-western corners of the southern
tower of the pylon.
• Originally these cartouches were completely
hidden by the pavement of the terrace.
 The main entrance
• The entrance to the temple is located on the northeast and is
through a large pylon, now destroyed, leading into the first open
court, which is also badly damaged. A stairway ramp on the main
axis of the temple leads to a raised terrace with a pillared hall that,
in turn, leads to the second court through three entrances at the
back of the hall.
• The First Pylon western faces of the two towers were each
adorned with seven niches containing colossal statues of the King
in the form of Osiris. As these statues form an original part of the
building.
• They must be intended to represent Seti I. In any case, Ramsess has
inscribed four out of the seven statues with his own name. The
upper parts of these statues are now missing, but three of the best
preserved heads may be seen standing at the northern end of the
second portico in front of the facade of the temple.
 The First Open Court

The Southern Wall

• At the eastern end of the southern wall is a
scene showing military scribes counting the
severed hands of enemies slain in battle.
• To the west of the small doorway is a large,
spirited battle scene. Ramesses is shown
storming an enemy fortress which is strategically
built upon a hill. The king has left his chariot and
is attacking the enemy on foot. He is striding over
vanquished foes who lie bound back in pairs.
• The exterior of the northern wall of the
Ramses II Temple at Abydos is decorated with
scenes from the Battle of Qadesh.
• An inscription in front of the King likens him to
the War God Montu .
• In the next scene Ramesses fights from his
chariot, but only the lower part of the car and the
legs and bellies of the horses remain. The
enemies are of the same types as those in the
fortress and are dramatically rendered as they fall
before the victorious king. One unlucky fellow is
lying under the chariot wheel.
• A smaller chariot, also belonging to the Egyptian
army, follows the King; it probably carries one of
his brothers or sons.
• The rest of the wall is taken up by a scene of
the King's triumphal return to Egypt. The
composition is dominated by the colossal
figure of Ramsess in his chariot.
• Again, only the lower part remains. The horses
are trotting in a very natural manner; and the
King's pet lion runs beside them. Ramesses is
known to have had his pet lions accompany
him into battle.
• Two small chariots follow Ramesses. In one of
them two men stand side by side. The nearer one
is driving and his companion is a shield- bearer.
• Ramesses drives before his chariot two groups of
living prisoners from "the rebellious foreign
lands. They have their arms bound together at
the elbows and are linked together by a long rope
that passes around the neck of each man; the
ends of the rope are held by Ramesses.
• The final scene shows Ramesses presenting the
spoils of war to the temple; again only the lower
part remains.
• The King is leading a group of bound prisoners
behind him and has set down some precious gold
vessels in front of the two gods. At the top is a
large bowl.
• Figures of two bound Asiatic prisoners kneel
upon the flat base and support the bowl upon
their heads. Inside the bowl, or perhaps forming
its upper part, is a model of a Syrian fortress.
 The Northern Wall of the Court

• The first ten meters of the northern wall of the court

are completely destroyed; the remainder is in a bad
state of preservation.
• The remains of a small doorway, opposite to that in the
southern wall, perhaps led to the missing "palace", or
the so-called "Window of Appearance".
• To the west of the doorway is a large scene showing
Ramesses, accompanied by his chariot and setting
forth for battle.
• The westernmost scene on this wall is a very splendid
composition. Ramesses is in the act of mounting his
chariot. He wears the blue war helmet.
 The ablution Basins
• Two large circular stone basins in rectangular chambers
were constructed in the north and south of the central axis
of the First Court. They are built of limestone blocks.
• The chambers in which they lie are built of sandstone. The
walls, were sculptured with scenes and inscriptions by
Ramesses II; the lintels of the doorways were inscribed
during Seti's reign and bear his names and titles.
• The water used in these basins came from a well which lies
a few meters to the north of the northern basin. The main
function of these basins was the purification of every day
rituals preformed in the temple
 The Second Pylon and its Portico
• The Second Pylon and its portico stand upon a limestone
terrace raised about 1.5 m. from the pavement of the First
Court. It is reached by a double flight of steps with a central
ramp between them. On the western face of this terrace
are two long but somewhat damaged inscriptions of
Merenptah.
• The Second Pylon is really only a pylon shaped wall
measuring only 5.7 m. thick. In place of the grooves for flag
masts in its eastern face, it has nine niches for statues; the
walls of which are all sculptured with scenes of Ramesses
adoring various gods.
• There were two gateways in this pylon. The great Central
gateway closed by a double-leaved wooden door and a
smaller one in the northern tower. Originally inscribed by
Ramesses II, Merenptah, Ramesses III and RamessesIV.
• In front of the eastern face of the pylon stood
a portico, its roof supported on twelve
rectangular pillars of sandstone and limestone
none of which are now completed.
• Their lower parts are decorated with design
and imitation wooden panelling above which
are horizontal inscriptions of Ramesses II of no
particular interest.
 The Walls of the Portico

• Like any proud father, Ramses II was

determined to immortalize his children here.
He had the figures and names of his sons
carved on the southern wall of the portico and
on both sides of the southern tower of the
pylon while his very charming daughters
occupy the same places on the northern
tower and wall.
• They are all represented almost exactly alike and are
not attempts at individual portraits. They wear
elaborately curled wigs with
• The hanging side tresses that were the badges of
princes of the royal house. They are clad in long
transparent robes of fine linen.
• Each boy raises his right hand in adoration, and in the
left hand each carries a long-handled fan formed of a
single ostrich plume.
• This was the insignia of the office of "Fan-bearer of the
Right of the King"; an honorary title held only by royal
princes and very high ranking nobles. Tied to the
handle of each fan is the crook of royal authority. In
front of each figure a vertical inscription gives the
prince's name and titles.
 The Second Court

• The Second Court was also originally paved

with limestone. Like the First Court it
measures about 51.5 m. wide and 31.5 m.
from east to west.
• On the southern tower are more
representation of the sons of Ramesses, but
they are not well-preserved. The figures of the
daughters Ramesses on the northern half of
the wall are all badly damaged.
 The Window of Appearances

• Immediately to the west of the stela is an opening in

the wall now used as a door to the magazines and
Audience Hall.
• It was originally a window. This seems to have been the
"Window of Appearances" usually found over-looking a
court in an important temple.
• From such windows the King could show himself to the
people assembled in the court and on certain
occasions would hand down golden collars and other
golden ornaments to officials whom he wished to
reward. These gifts were called, the "gold of praise".
 The Second Portico of the Temple
• At the western end of the Second Court is a platform about 1.25
meters higher than the original pavement. On this platform stand
twelve rectangular pillars supporting the roof of the portico. The
walls and pillars of the portico were all decorated by Ramesses II in
incised relief; these are very good in both style and execution.
• Two scenes adorn the northern wall. The scene to the right
represents Ramsses "styling" a bunch of Asiatic prisoners of war
whom he grasps by their hair.
• The second scene, which is under the roof of the portico, retains
much of its original colour. Here Ramsses, carrying a horizontal
incense burner and the Life sign in his left hand, raises the right one
in the conventional gesture of a person speaking or reciting. In this
case he is reciting the traditional offering formula which begins with
" An offering which the King gives" on behalf of the God Osiris who
stands before him. Below, located the 3 heads of Ramses II cutting
from the Osorion pillars of the first pylon.
• The Western Wall.
• The western wall of the portico. At the
northern end is a small doorway.
• To the south of the doorway is a fine large
scene showing the ram-headed God Khnum
and the falcon-headed Horus taking Ramesses
by the hands and leading him to the Temple of
Ra-Hor-akhty at Heliopolis.
• The next part of this scene Ramsess receives
the crook and flail from Ra-Hor-akhty while
Osiris stands approvingly in the front of the
sacred Persea tree of Heliopolis and the God
Ptah of Memphis is writing the name of
Ramsess upon the leaves. The ibis-headed
Thot, also recording the length of the King's
reign.
 The First Hypostyle Hall.
• The Great Hall, 24 gigantic sandstone papyrus-bud columns uphold
the painted ceiling where the vultures of Nekhbet spread their
wings in protection over the holy place. On the massive architraves,
large coloured hieroglyphs proclaim the names of Ramsess and his
father.
• The two rows of columns are arranged in pairs forming aisles
leading to the seven doorways in the western wall, and on their
shafts are scenes showing Ramsess adoring the god to whose Cult
Chapels the aisles eventually lead.
The Eastern Wall
• Built of sandstone, the eastern wall really consists of six massive
piers separating the original seven doorways in the façade of the
temple. Each pier bears an upper and lower scene, and below them
the Nile God Hapi is kneeling with vases of water and trays of
offerings, each God bearing on his head the standard of the nome
through which he flows.
• On the first pier to the south, the upper scene shows the King running and towing
behind him the sacred Henu-boat of the God Sokar which is placed upon a sledge.
• In the lower scene Ramesses recites the offering formula for the ithyphallic God
Min. In front of the God is a curious looking figure like a mummified ape. A
beautiful composition on the third pier shows Ramsses between the Gods Atum
and Amun-Ra who extend to him the emblems of Life, Endurance and Prosperity.
The Northern Wall
• The northern wall being of limestone allows for even finer sculpture than the
sandstone piers; the first scene from the right hand side, Ramsess is being purified
by the Gods Horus and Thot. The Gods holding golden vases, pour the magically
purifying liquid into two symmetrical streams over the King. The water being
represented as a long zigzag lines, each drop of water
• taking the form of Ankh sign, as if the gods give Ramses a very long life and period
of reign.
• In the last scene on this wall Ramesses is offering the "Henty" to Osiris. This means
that he is presenting to the God the title-deeds of his temple, a papyrus roll on
which would be written the dimensions of the building and of all the land
belonging to it. The document is supposed to be rolled up inside a golden case
shaped like a column, its cover in the form of a falcon's head crowned with a solar
disk. The column stands upon a rectangular base and is supported by a statuette of
the King kneeling. Osiris is enthroned, and behind him stand Isis and Horus, the
Holy Family of Abydos.
The Western Wall
• Again the wall is formed by six sandstone piers
which separate the doorways leading into the
Second Hypostyle Hall.
• On the upper part of the first pier from the north,
Isis suckles Ramesses in the presence of Horus. In
the lower scene Horus presents the Double
Crown to Ramesses while Isis offers him the royal
uraeus (sacred cobra) and the mystic menat and
sistrum.
• The Southern Wall
• The southern wall is in poor condition.
 The helicopter Scene
• The scene is a palimpsest, and not a single
work.
 The seven doorways to the Second
Hypostyle Hall.
• Seven imposing doorways open into the Second
Hypostyle Hall. These doorways like the columns in the
First Hypostyle Hall were partly decorated in bas-relief
by Seti. But most of this was erased and re-cut in
incised work by Ramesses II.
• On the eastern side, the lintel of each doorway is
surmounted by a palmetto cornice. In the center of
each cornice is a solar disk cut in very high relief and
flanked by two crowned uraei. The serpent on the
northern side appropriately wears the Red Crown of
Lower Egypt while its companion to the south wears
the White Crown of Upper Egypt.
• The lintels and outer jambs are all adorned with
scenes of Ramesses and the gods.
• These doors were made of thick planks of cedar
wood, sheathed in electrum, a natural mixture of
gold and silver.
• The sides of the doorways against which the
door-leaves opened were all inscribed by Seti I
with six vertical lines of dedication speeches
relating to the gods whose Cult Chapels were
opposite to the doorways. We find that the side
where the door opens is sculptured in the incised
style while the opposite side is in bas-relief.
 The Second Hypostyle Hall

• Passing through any one of the seven doorways brings

one into a hall where walls, columns, architraves and
ceiling are all covered with exquisite bas-reliefs.
• In the eastern part of the hall, twenty-four papyrus-
bud columns up-hold the roof. These are also arranged
in pairs to form aisles. The pavement of the western
part of the hall is raised to a height of about 55 cm.
and here stand twelve more columns of different type,
these have round shafts and no capitals. Six limestone
ramps and a central stairway ascend to the higher part
of the hall.
The Eastern Wall
• The eastern wall is formed by the western faces of six
sandstone piers separating the seven doorways. All bear
scenes in relief similar in subject to those on the eastern
and western walls of the First Hypostyle Hall
The Northern Wall
• On this wall, which is of limestone, the art is of the period is
displayed in all its glory. The scene in the upper register at
the eastern end of the wall shows Seti I about to prostrate
himself before a god and goddess (probably Amun-Ra and
Mut).
• He kneels on his right knee with the left leg and foot
stretched out behind him; his body leans forward and both
hands are raised in adoration. It is one of the most
expressive scenes of most expressive scenes of adoration in
all Egyptian sculpture.
• In the lower scenes Seti burns incense and pours a
libation before Osiris and Horus. The libation is poured
from three slender vases which are joined together,
and the triple stream of water falls into three vases
shaped like human hearts.
• The next scenes has long been hailed as the
masterpiece of Egyptian relief sculpture. It represents
the adoration of Osiris by five Goddesses, or it maybe
depicts the crowning of god Osiris.
• In front of Osiris stand the Goddess Maat wearing a
robe patterned like feathered wings folded around her
graceful body. Behind Isis stands Amentet, the
personification of the West (amenty), the Kingdom of
Osiris and the Home of the Dead. On her head is the
symbol of Amenty, a falcon. perched upon a semicircle.
Lastly comes Nepthys, the sister of Osiris and Isis. She
wears a plain robe covered by a network of beads.
The relief is located on the west wall of the
Second Hypostyle Hall of the Seti I Temple at
Abydos, between the entrances of the Chapel
of Ptah and the Chapel of Ra-Horakhty.
• Following the above mentioned scenes is a
pilaster bears an interesting representation of
the Djed pillar once the symbol of Osiris and
of his resurrection.
• The lower scene on the wall is yet another one
of singular beauty and is very well known. It
shows Seti presenting a small image of Maat,
here symbolizing Truth, to Osiris.
• The Western Wall of the Second Hypostyle
hall
• The western wall of the Second Hypostyle Hall
consists of six piers, but here they are of
limestone and are decorated with coloured
bas-reliefs. They separate the doorways of the
Seven Vaulted Chapels.
 The Doorways

• The outer sides of these doorways are surmounted by

palmetto cornices in the center of which is a solar disk and
crowned uraei in high relief. Above each doorway was
window with a stone grill.
• The outer jambs of each doorway bear three scenes
showing the deity to whom the chapel is dedicated. The
fourth and lowest scene shows the God Thot or Goddess
Seshat writing an inscription. Below is a dedication text
which also gives the name of the doorway.
• Each doorway was once closed by double-leaved doors of
cedar wood plated with gold or electrum and inlaid with
semiprecious stones.
Second hypostyle
Seven doors corresponding to the walled up entrance
doorways, lead into the Second Hypostyle Hall.
Second Hypostyle Hall, West Second Hypostyle Hall, West
Wall, Entrance to the Chapel Wall, Entrance to the Chapel
of King Seti I, Southern of King Seti I, northern
Thickness Thickness
 The Niches

• In the center of each of the limestone piers is

a niche, each wall of which bears a scene of
Seti and the gods. Their ceilings are decorated
with yellow five-pointed stars on a blue
ground representing the sky.
• Their lintels all bear splendid emblems of the
winged sun disk of Horus of Edfu and
inscription giving the names and epithets of
Seti and the gods by whom he is beloved.
The west wall
 THE SEVEN VAULTED SHAPLES

• Seven chapels with vaulted roofs open out of the western wall of the Second
Hypostyle Hall. Six of these chapels were intended to be used for the daily cult
ceremonies of the Gods Horus, Isis, Osiris, Amun-Ra, Re-Horakhty and Ptah. The
seventh was for the Mortuary Cult of Seti himself who maybe had become a god.
• These chapels were the very holy places of the temple. Each chapel was divided
into two halves by a gilded wooden screen topped by a frieze of uraei and was
once having a door in the middle.
• In the western wall of every chapel, except that of Osiris, is a large false-door of
sandstone.
• For the morning ceremony the king or the high priest, instead, first broke the clay
seal on the doors and entered the chapel carrying an incense burner and a golden
libation vase. He next broke the seal on the door of the golden shrine, opened the
door and knelt to pray. In cense was burned and libations of water and natron
poured out. The ornaments and clothing of the statue were removed, and the
statue itself then washed, dried and anointed with perfumed ointment.
• It was then clad in new clothing – and the crowns, ornaments and scepters
replaced. Clean sand was poured all over the floor of the chapel. The door of the
golden shrine was then bolted and sealed, and the daily cult ceremony was
completed.
• These rites are the subject of the scenes on the walls of
the six cult chapels of the gods, but instead of being
performed by a priest, Seti I himself is officiating, as
honorary High Priest of every god. The inscriptions
accompanying the scenes in record the words to be
spoken during the performance of each ceremony.
• Behind the screen in the western end of the chapel
stood a rectangular pedestal of gilded wood. The
sacred golden boat was brought from the special hall in
which it was usually housed and placed on the
pedestal. During the Great Feast of Osiris, all the boats
were carried out together in great procession with
music and singing.
The south wall of the chapel of Osiris
The wet wall of the inner osiris hall
Sanctuary of Amun
 The Vaulted Chapel of Seti I

• Many people suppose that because Seti has a

chapel along with those of the other great Gods,
he intended that he too should be worshiped
here. It had another purpose than that of the
other six.
• Here there are no daily cult rites, and in their
place are a number of symbolic representation of
the coronations, and the Heb-sed Jubilees. This
chapel was for the performance of mortuary Cult
of the King and to keep alive his memory in this
most beloved monument.
• The Northern Wall of the Chapel of Seti
• The following scene is exceptionally beautiful,
depicting the crowning of the king. Seti wearing
the Atef crown is seated between the Goddesses
Nekhbet of Upper Egypt and Wadjet of lower
Egypt who are embracing him.
• Thot and Horus are binding the lily and papyrus
plants to the symbol of Union on the pedestal
under the King's throne so reaffirming the union
of Upper and Lower Egypt under the rule of Seti.
 A ROYAL PASSAGE WITH ROYAL
NAMES
• This passage now known as the "Corridor of Kings", or
"Corridor of Ancestors", an account of the very famous list
of royal names on its western wall, leads out of the south-
western end of the Second Hypostyle Hall.
• The list of Kings.
• The famous and extremely important document known as
"The List of Kings" or "Abydos King list". It extends from
the northern jamb of the doorway of the Western Corridor.
Sety, holding an incense burner, is reciting a prayer for
offerings on behalf of his predecessors whose names
appear in the list. In front of him little Prince Ramesses, in
priestly costume, is reading from a roll of papyrus.
 Passage to the Osirion
• The north wall of the so-called Corridor of the
Bull in the Seti I Temple at Abydos has the famous
scene of Ramses II and his son
Amunherkhepeshef in a bull hunt. While his son
is holding the bull by the tail, Ramses is poised to
throw a lasso.
• It appears that this will be his second throw, as
the bull is already restricted in his movements by
a rope that connects his horns to his left hind leg
 The Osirion, or the residence of god
Osiris
• A very unique construction to the western side of
Seti I's temple , but in a lower level of about 18m.
• It is in good state of preservation, and it was
thought that the origin of the temple maybe
related to the Old KIngdo or Middle Kingdom, but
it was proved that the real builders, were Seti I
and Merenptah (19th Dynaty) the walls of the
Osoirion included the most 131 complete scenes
extracted from the Book of the Underworld and
the Book of the Gates.