REPORT

ON WORK DONE IN THE TEMPLE OF LUXOR

IN 1905-1906

BY

ARTHUR E.-P. WEIGALL

INSPECTECn EN CUEF DU SERVICE DES ANTIQUITES.

Upon the east and nortb sides of the temple of Luxor, the riibbish inounds

on which the modem bouses are biiilt rise to a considérable beigbt. Thèse

mounds encroach in places upon the temple ground, and down tbeir rag-

ged side the villagers used to throw their rubbisb , wbich ibus fell into the

temple preclncts. The dirt and untidiness of the place was intolérable, and

il was iherefore decided to assign to its cleaning the residue of the sum pre-

sented by H. H. DjeniilpashaToussoun, the major Iialf of which liad been

already e\pended in the excavation of fbe .Mortuarv Temple of Thout-

mosis III at Gurneb.

Work was commenced in June icjoô. at the soutb-cast corner of the

temple, i. e. ihat part which is nearest to the Luxor Hôtel. Hère an en-

croaching house was purchased for the sum of L. E. 7 and was pulled

down. The rubbish mounds were then attacked, and tons of broken pot-

tery, earlh, brickdust, and so forth were carried down to the Nile on

railway trucks, and tipped down the embankment, at a point where the

front required widening. The mounds were llien tidily levelled, and the

temple was walled in on tbis side.

There is an open court on ibe east of the temple, bebind the colonnade

wbich leads from the great court of Amenopbis 111 to that of Rameses H.

Hère again the rubbish mounds were in amost wretcbed condition. The re-

fuse from the bouses on the top of the mounds was thrown down the slope

into the temple. Empty tin cans, broken crockery, etc., rolled into the

Annalet, 1907. 8

[2]_ 114 _

court, and often tlie body of some dead animal was to be found bere. The

mounds were, therefore, dug away, and levelled, the slope being carefully

faced with stone, and ibis court is now abie to be kept scrupulously clean.

Between tbis court and ibe soutb-east corner, ibe east side of tlie temple

was protected by tbe construction of stone walis at tbe points wbere tbe

ancient waiis were broken.

Tbe courlyard in whicb stands tbe mosque was left untoucbed, as

notbing can be done untii tbe tomb is removed.

Tbe work was now carried to tbe nortb side of tbe temple, botli in front

and on tbe west side of tbe pylons. Hère a large area of ground belonging

to tbe Antiquities Department lay open to tbe village, and tbe untidy mounds

of rubbisb received daily tbeir deposit of dirt. From tbis point natives and

iheir donkeys, goals, or dogs, wandered into tbe temple, tbe gaffirs being

generally unable to leave tbeir posts al tbeenlrance and in tbe temple pro-

per in order to eject tbem. Tbe whole of tbis area was tberefore cleaned

up and levelled, and a stout stone wall was buill on tbe river side, whiie

tbe bigb mounds on ibe nortb side were pusbed back and sloped in an

orderly manner, so as to form an enclosing barrier. Visitors are now able

to walk round lo the front of tbe temple on clean ground.

Against tbe soulbernmost corner of the west side of the west pylon tbere

were piled in Roman times a number of stone blocks wbich bid tbe interesl-

ing reliefs of tbe Ramesside wars. Tbese were removed, and tbe reliefs be-

low were found to beof considérable importance. Prof. W. Max Mûller, who,

a short lime aflerwards, was coUecling malerial in tbe Jjuxor Temple for

publication, saw tbese reliefs, and I invilod him to publish pbotograpbs

of tbem and copies of tbe inscriptions. Tbis be decided to do, and il was

arrangedthat a copy of tbe work sliould be given to our Department, while

anotber bhould be presented to Prince Djemil.

Tbe process of removing tbe rubbisb was now pusbed soutbwards along

tbe outer face of tbe west wall of tbe temple, and visitors can now walk

enlirely round the nortb, west and south sides, passing on clean ground

between ihe outer wall of the temple and tbe enclosing wall built some

years ago by ibe Antiquities Department. Tbe ruins of a Coptic cburch

whicb stand on tbis side of the temple were exposed and tidiedup, andwill

be found lo be of some interest. During tbe excavations a block of stone,

— 115 — [3]

bearing ihe names of K.ing Hakoris. was found on tlie west side of the

westpylon. No other objecls of any value were found.

The generosity of Prince Djemil Toussoun bas ibus ied lo ibe carrying

ihrough of a work wbieb, each year, il bas become a greater necessity to

underlake, and tbe tbanks of tbe Antiquities Department and of the rési-

dents and visilors in Luxor are due to him.

The cost of the work was a foUows, and a certain sum of money stili

remains over, which wiil be cmployed in excavations at Sheikb abdel

Gurneh.

Wages of woïkmen L. E. i Sg . i 45

Purchase of lioiise •"

7 . 000

Salary of clerk of works 1 10.790

Builders ' i3.i35

Total L. E. 170. 000

Cash in hand L. E. 11. 963

Gurneb Excavations 1 208 . 037

Total sum received from H. H. Djemil pasha . . . L. E. Sgo.ooo

E. p. \\ EIGALL.