Karnak. G[ran]d Temple. Salle Hypostyle. Extérieur Est

Accession Number
1980/1.207

Title
Karnak. G[ran]d Temple. Salle Hypostyle. Extérieur Est

Artist(s)
Pascal Sebah

Artist Nationality
Turkish (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
circa 1880

Medium & Support
albumen print on paper

Dimensions
14 in x 16 15/16 in (35.56 cm x 43.02 cm)

Credit Line
Transfer from the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology

Subject matter
In this photograph of the great hypostyle hall, part of the temple complex dedicated to Amun at Karnak, massive stone columns form a horizontal band across the middle register of the image. In front of these columns, the remnant of a stone wall with pictorial relief carvings and hieroglyphics obscures our view of the interior of the hall. Raking natural sunlight illuminates the left-hand edges of the columns, making it possible, though somewhat difficult, to see relief carvings on the surfaces of the columns as well. Crisscrossing horizontal and vertical lines turn the composition into a veritable grid, which is interrupted by the diagonal formed by a singular leaning column on the right-hand side of the image.   

Physical Description
A large hypostyle hall in a state of ruin stands amid rocky and sandy terrain. 

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Karnak
Ruins
columns
columns (architectural elements)
cultural landscapes
hieroglyphics
hypostyle halls
ruins
temples (buildings)
travel photography

4 Related Resources

Egypt in 19th Century Photography
(Part of 3 Learning Collections)
Monuments and Memorials
(Part of 4 Learning Collections)
Religious Buildings
(Part of 2 Learning Collections)
Ruins
(Part of 3 Learning Collections)

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted