4th Pylon and Enclosure

Introduction

The fourth pylon formed the west side of the Wadjet Hall and the east side of the "festival court" of Thutmose II. The enclosure wall connected to this pylon encircled the early 18th Dynasty temple of the time. A limestone casing covered the pylon's interior sandstone core.

Measurements: The pylon stood 23.50m tall with a total width of 62.6 m and a depth of 10.5m.

Phase: Thutmose I

Pylon IV served as the main entrance into the temple precinct until the mid-18th Dynasty. Rectangular niches were originally built into the east face of the stonework (which faced the interior of the Wadjet Hall) for the placement of small Osiride statues of Thutmose I.

The sandstone enclosure wall replaced the temple's previous inner mud brick enclosure wall

Construction materials: sandstone, limestone

About the reconstruction model of this phase

The model of the fourth pylon was based on the plan of the monument by Carlotti (1995: pl. XX) and the axial drawing by Gabolde (1993: V-VII). The location and thickness of the enclosure wall was based on the published plan of the temple by Carlotti (2001: pl. 1).

A simple stone pattern approximating the general size of the actual blocks was used on the model. The limestone casing on the fourth pylon was not specifically represented.

Large wooden flagstaffs have been added to the pylon towers. These would have been topped with colorful cloth banners. The tall poles stood on stone bases, and were arranged within square notches left in the pylon's exterior masonry. Clamps secured to the pylon itself (not shown on the model) further stabilized their upper portions. The form and size of the flagstaffs were based on representations of these features found at temples and tombs. These show the poles as reaching above the height of the pylon and tapering as they rise (Azim and Traunecker (1982: fig. 4).

Bibliography and Sources Used for Model Construction

Azim, M. and C. Traunecker (1982), “Un mât du IXe Pylône au nome d'Horemheb.” Cahiers de Karnak, vol. VII, 75-92.

Barguet, Paul (1962), Le temple d'Amon-Rê à Karnak; essai d'exégèse. Le Caire: Impr. de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale, xix, 368 p..

Carlotti, Jean-François (1995), “Contribution à l' étude métrologique de quelques monuments du temple d'Amon-Rê à Karnak.” Cahiers de Karnak, vol. X, 65-127.

Carlotti, Jean-François and Luc Gabolde (2003), “Nouvelles données sur la Ouadjyt.” Cahiers de Karnak, vol. XI, 255-338.

Gabolde, Luc (1993), “La "cour de fêtes" de Thoutmosis II à Karnak.” Cahiers de Karnak, vol. IX, 1-100.

Further reading

Blyth, Elizabeth (2006), Karnak: evolution of a temple. London: Routledge.