Temple of Monthu (Medamud)
Encyclopedia
The Temple of Monthu is an Egyptian temple
dedicated to the worship of Monthu. The site is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) northeast of Karnak
, which is loacted within Luxor
. Medamud was excavated by French archaeologist Fernand Bisson de la Roque
from 1925 to the post-war, and revealed many buildings including a temple dedicated to Monthu. This temple replaced an ancient sanctuary and consists of an open forum with a tower and enclosing two mounds that housed the chapels of worship. It is thought that original sanctuary dates to the Old Kingdom. The ruins of the last structure date to the Ptolemy VIII period of the 2nd century BC, although decorations and additions continued to be added centuries later by the Romans. Because of Monthu's strong association with raging bulls, the temple was a major centre of worship for bulls, containing many statues of bulls for worship and reliefs. Most of these statues are now located in various museums around the world.
-headed, god of war. He was the patron god of Thebes
. His consorts were Tjenenyet (or Tanen-t) and Raettawy (or Rattaui); his son was Harpora. He is also associated with a sacred bull named Buchis.
In addition to the temple at Medamud, temples dedicated to Monthu were built in Karnak, Armant, and Tod. From 1925-1932, the Medamud Temple of Monthu was excavated by French archaeologist, Fernand Bisson de la Roque, of the Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale
, in conjunction with the Louvre Museum.
temple is situated on a circular mound. Its orientation bears east-west.
Nearby are the Egyptian temple
complexes at Luxor
and Karnak. The Karnak Temple Complex contains three precincts, including the Precinct of Montu
, which contains another Temple of Monthu.
building is a rare example of the foundation of religion in the Middle Kingdom of Egypt
era. Others of this period are the temple of Sesostris III in Abydos
, the Temple of Medinet Madi and Qasr el-Sagha in Fayoum dating from approximately the same time, and the funerary temple
of Mentuhotep II
of the 11th dynasty
in Deir el-Bahari. The sanctuary was remodeled in later periods..
The temple's features included a tribune platform, a canal, a dromos
, main gate, portico, hall, and sanctuary. There was also a courtyard for the living sacred bull. It consisted of a first chamber, 200 by 180 meters. The main access was by the east and north. A sacred lake was probably on the west side of the temple. The temple consisted of two distinct, contiguous sections that have been interpreted as a temple to the north and one to the south where the priests would have had their quarters. Typical of the period, the temple was built of brick; it included raw elements for the doors and frames, and column or carved stone, the bases of which were decorated. Carved stone would have been present in the most intimate parts of the sanctuary, but no trace of it has been discovered. No doubt these parts were considered sacred and reused in later buildings. The plan of the sanctuary of the Middle Kingdom is still subject to discussion. But it was to have at least one hypostyle
antechamber, giving access to chapels of worship or shrine. A large courtyard surrounded by portico columns where a sacred bull would have lived would have have been revered as the hypostasis of the living Monthu.
This temple has provided many examples of royal statuary and lithic
elements of Ancient Egyptian architecture
. One of the extravagant doors, dated to Sesostris III, is in the Louvre
. The temple continued to be decorated in the 13th dynasty of Egypt
, including Sobekhotep II
, and included some reliefs of his predecessors and of his ancestor Sesostris III, dressed in the fashion of the Sed festival
.
The temple was revised later by the kings of the 18th dynasty of Egypt
and was rebuilt by Thutmose III
, who rebuilt the stone sanctuary and adorned it with statues in his likeness.
Composed of twelve columns, the structure was built under Ptolemy VIII, who was then one of the great rebuilders of Medamud. Four of the six columns of the facade are still connected by walls. The elements of the inner temple are dated them from the beginning of the Ptolemaic period. The enclosure of the temple included a sacred lake and a deep well but was blocked off because it represented a danger to children playing in the area. The temple continued to be enlarged and decorated for centuries under the Roman emperors, including Tiberius
(14-37), up until the reign of Antoninus Pius
. A wharf, which was reached by a canal, connected the temple with a line of sphinxes; it is in a state of ruin. Although grass grows throughout the site, there is still find evidence of ancient pilgrims in the form of graffiti or engraved footprints. Following the processional aisle, it was possible to access a large door whose decoration dates from the reign of Tiberius. This monumental gateway was a large opening within the walls of the temple axis. It was Ptolemy VIII, however who built the towered portico around the door, its decoration not completed until the reign of Ptolemy XII. Another door dates to Ptolemy II.
Some of the artifacts found in the temple date to Ptolemy III and Ptolemy IV.. Many of these artifacts are statues of bulls which were used for worship and reliefs. The interior of this monument is interesting because it and its doors describes the traditional scenes of the Sed festival
when the king in traditional costume receives offerings or during an important step in the inauguration ceremony of royal power. The Temple of Monthu is also an important insight into how very popular bull cults were in ancient Egypt, Monthu being strongly associated with raging bulls. A long corridor retained the scenes of the cult of the bull Bukhis which date mostly from the emperor Domitian
(81-96). There is also a wall relief of a procession of musicians who came to visit Trajan
.
Nothing remains of the earlier or later temples, and the remains are dated mainly from the Greco-Roman period. The temple at Medamud was probably founded as the place of worship for the living god Monthu while the temple Bouchéum (or Bucheum) at Ermant
included a necropolis of sacred bulls, and was probably dedicated to his death. There are Coptic remains on the temple site.
, were taken to museums including the Karnak Open Air Museum
. Most of the temples statues are now located in various museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon and the Louvre.
Egyptian temple
Egyptian temples were built for the official worship of the gods and commemoration of pharaohs in Ancient Egypt and in regions under Egyptian control. These temples were seen as houses for the gods or kings to whom they were dedicated...
dedicated to the worship of Monthu. The site is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) northeast of Karnak
Karnak
The Karnak Temple Complex—usually called Karnak—comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amun and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II . Sacred Lake is part of the site as well. It is located near Luxor, some...
, which is loacted within Luxor
Luxor
Luxor is a city in Upper Egypt and the capital of Luxor Governorate. The population numbers 487,896 , with an area of approximately . As the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, Luxor has frequently been characterized as the "world's greatest open air museum", as the ruins of the temple...
. Medamud was excavated by French archaeologist Fernand Bisson de la Roque
Fernand Bisson de la Roque
Fernand Bisson de La Roque was a French Egyptologist and archaeologist. Notable excavations include...
from 1925 to the post-war, and revealed many buildings including a temple dedicated to Monthu. This temple replaced an ancient sanctuary and consists of an open forum with a tower and enclosing two mounds that housed the chapels of worship. It is thought that original sanctuary dates to the Old Kingdom. The ruins of the last structure date to the Ptolemy VIII period of the 2nd century BC, although decorations and additions continued to be added centuries later by the Romans. Because of Monthu's strong association with raging bulls, the temple was a major centre of worship for bulls, containing many statues of bulls for worship and reliefs. Most of these statues are now located in various museums around the world.
Monthu
Monthu was a falconFalcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
-headed, god of war. He was the patron god of Thebes
Thebes, Egypt
Thebes is the Greek name for a city in Ancient Egypt located about 800 km south of the Mediterranean, on the east bank of the river Nile within the modern city of Luxor. The Theban Necropolis is situated nearby on the west bank of the Nile.-History:...
. His consorts were Tjenenyet (or Tanen-t) and Raettawy (or Rattaui); his son was Harpora. He is also associated with a sacred bull named Buchis.
In addition to the temple at Medamud, temples dedicated to Monthu were built in Karnak, Armant, and Tod. From 1925-1932, the Medamud Temple of Monthu was excavated by French archaeologist, Fernand Bisson de la Roque, of the Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale
Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale
.The Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale , also known as the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo is a French research institute based in Cairo, Egypt, dedicated to the study of the archaeology, history and languages of the various periods of Egypt's civilisation.The IFAO is...
, in conjunction with the Louvre Museum.
Geography
Medamud (or Madu) was an outpost of Thebes, located 3 miles (4.8 km) away. Little is known about the town of Medamud or its other structures. Prior to construction of the Middle Kingdom temple, the site had been burned and earlier mounds were razed. The Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom of Egypt
The Middle Kingdom of Egypt is the period in the history of ancient Egypt stretching from the establishment of the Eleventh Dynasty to the end of the Fourteenth Dynasty, between 2055 BC and 1650 BC, although some writers include the Thirteenth and Fourteenth dynasties in the Second Intermediate...
temple is situated on a circular mound. Its orientation bears east-west.
Nearby are the Egyptian temple
Egyptian temple
Egyptian temples were built for the official worship of the gods and commemoration of pharaohs in Ancient Egypt and in regions under Egyptian control. These temples were seen as houses for the gods or kings to whom they were dedicated...
complexes at Luxor
Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the River Nile in the city today known as Luxor and was founded in 1400 BCE.,...
and Karnak. The Karnak Temple Complex contains three precincts, including the Precinct of Montu
Precinct of Montu
The Precinct of Montu, located near Luxor, Egypt, is one of the four main temple enclosures that make up the immense Karnak Temple Complex. It is dedicated to the Egyptian god Montu, the child of Amun and Mut. The area covers about 20,000 m²...
, which contains another Temple of Monthu.
Old Kingdom site
The Old Kingdom temple site, dedicted to Monthu, was walled and had a sacred grove. It had a tunnel system, mounds and chambers.Middle Kingdom temple
The Middle Kingdom 12th dynastyTwelfth dynasty of Egypt
The twelfth dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with Dynasties XI, XIII and XIV under the group title Middle Kingdom.-Rulers:Known rulers of the twelfth dynasty are as follows :...
building is a rare example of the foundation of religion in the Middle Kingdom of Egypt
Middle Kingdom of Egypt
The Middle Kingdom of Egypt is the period in the history of ancient Egypt stretching from the establishment of the Eleventh Dynasty to the end of the Fourteenth Dynasty, between 2055 BC and 1650 BC, although some writers include the Thirteenth and Fourteenth dynasties in the Second Intermediate...
era. Others of this period are the temple of Sesostris III in Abydos
Abydos
Abydos may mean:*Abydos, Egypt, an Ancient Egyptian city*Abydos , an ancient city of Mysia, in Asia Minor*Abydos , name of a fictional planet in the Stargate science fiction universeAbidos may mean:...
, the Temple of Medinet Madi and Qasr el-Sagha in Fayoum dating from approximately the same time, and the funerary temple
Mortuary temple
Mortuary temples were temples constructed adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, royal tombs in the Ancient Egypt. The temples were designed to commemorate the reign of the pharaoh by whom they were built, as well as for use by the pharaoh's cult after death.-History:Mortuary temples were built...
of Mentuhotep II
Mentuhotep II
Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II was a Pharaoh of the 11th dynasty, the son of Intef III of Egypt and a minor queen called Iah. His own wife was the 'king's mother' Tem. Other wives were Neferu and several secondary wives, one or more who it has been suggested were possibly Nubian, buried in his...
of the 11th dynasty
Eleventh dynasty of Egypt
The eleventh dynasty of ancient Egypt was one group of rulers, whose earlier members are grouped with the four preceding dynasties to form the First Intermediate Period, while the later members are considered part of the Middle Kingdom...
in Deir el-Bahari. The sanctuary was remodeled in later periods..
The temple's features included a tribune platform, a canal, a dromos
Dromos
Dromos can refer to:* the cursus publicus, the public road system of the Roman and Byzantine empires;* Dromos in architecture, an entrance passage;* also modes used in Greek music....
, main gate, portico, hall, and sanctuary. There was also a courtyard for the living sacred bull. It consisted of a first chamber, 200 by 180 meters. The main access was by the east and north. A sacred lake was probably on the west side of the temple. The temple consisted of two distinct, contiguous sections that have been interpreted as a temple to the north and one to the south where the priests would have had their quarters. Typical of the period, the temple was built of brick; it included raw elements for the doors and frames, and column or carved stone, the bases of which were decorated. Carved stone would have been present in the most intimate parts of the sanctuary, but no trace of it has been discovered. No doubt these parts were considered sacred and reused in later buildings. The plan of the sanctuary of the Middle Kingdom is still subject to discussion. But it was to have at least one hypostyle
Hypostyle
In architecture, a hypostyle hall has a roof which is supported by columns, as in the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak. The word hypostyle comes from the Ancient Greek hypóstȳlos meaning "under columns"...
antechamber, giving access to chapels of worship or shrine. A large courtyard surrounded by portico columns where a sacred bull would have lived would have have been revered as the hypostasis of the living Monthu.
This temple has provided many examples of royal statuary and lithic
Lithic Technology
In archeology, lithic technology refers to a broad array of techniques and styles to produce usable tools from various types of stone. The earliest stone tools were recovered from modern Ethiopia and were dated to between two-million and three-million years old...
elements of Ancient Egyptian architecture
Ancient Egyptian architecture
The Nile valley has been the site of one of the most influential civilizations which developed a vast array of diverse structures encompassing ancient Egyptian architecture...
. One of the extravagant doors, dated to Sesostris III, is in the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
. The temple continued to be decorated in the 13th dynasty of Egypt
Thirteenth dynasty of Egypt
The thirteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with Dynasties XI, XII and XIV under the group title Middle Kingdom. Other writers separate it from these dynasties and join it to Dynasties XIV through XVII as part of the Second Intermediate Period...
, including Sobekhotep II
Sobekhotep II
birth name: Sobekhotep throne name: Sekhemre KhutawySobekhotep II was an Egyptian king of the 13th Dynasty.He is known from several monuments, including a statue, several Nile level records in Nubia and from building works at Medamud and Luxor...
, and included some reliefs of his predecessors and of his ancestor Sesostris III, dressed in the fashion of the Sed festival
Sed festival
The Sed festival was an ancient Egyptian ceremony that celebrated the continued rule of a pharaoh...
.
The temple was revised later by the kings of the 18th dynasty of Egypt
Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt
The eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best known of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt...
and was rebuilt by Thutmose III
Thutmose III
Thutmose III was the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. During the first twenty-two years of Thutmose's reign he was co-regent with his stepmother, Hatshepsut, who was named the pharaoh...
, who rebuilt the stone sanctuary and adorned it with statues in his likeness.
New Kingdom temple
The site is currently closed to the public as a team of archaeologists and restorers work to protect against the modern city encroachment on the ancient remains of the former city.Composed of twelve columns, the structure was built under Ptolemy VIII, who was then one of the great rebuilders of Medamud. Four of the six columns of the facade are still connected by walls. The elements of the inner temple are dated them from the beginning of the Ptolemaic period. The enclosure of the temple included a sacred lake and a deep well but was blocked off because it represented a danger to children playing in the area. The temple continued to be enlarged and decorated for centuries under the Roman emperors, including Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
(14-37), up until the reign of Antoninus Pius
Antoninus Pius
Antoninus Pius , also known as Antoninus, was Roman Emperor from 138 to 161. He was a member of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty and the Aurelii. He did not possess the sobriquet "Pius" until after his accession to the throne...
. A wharf, which was reached by a canal, connected the temple with a line of sphinxes; it is in a state of ruin. Although grass grows throughout the site, there is still find evidence of ancient pilgrims in the form of graffiti or engraved footprints. Following the processional aisle, it was possible to access a large door whose decoration dates from the reign of Tiberius. This monumental gateway was a large opening within the walls of the temple axis. It was Ptolemy VIII, however who built the towered portico around the door, its decoration not completed until the reign of Ptolemy XII. Another door dates to Ptolemy II.
Some of the artifacts found in the temple date to Ptolemy III and Ptolemy IV.. Many of these artifacts are statues of bulls which were used for worship and reliefs. The interior of this monument is interesting because it and its doors describes the traditional scenes of the Sed festival
Sed festival
The Sed festival was an ancient Egyptian ceremony that celebrated the continued rule of a pharaoh...
when the king in traditional costume receives offerings or during an important step in the inauguration ceremony of royal power. The Temple of Monthu is also an important insight into how very popular bull cults were in ancient Egypt, Monthu being strongly associated with raging bulls. A long corridor retained the scenes of the cult of the bull Bukhis which date mostly from the emperor Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
(81-96). There is also a wall relief of a procession of musicians who came to visit Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
.
Nothing remains of the earlier or later temples, and the remains are dated mainly from the Greco-Roman period. The temple at Medamud was probably founded as the place of worship for the living god Monthu while the temple Bouchéum (or Bucheum) at Ermant
Hermonthis
The modern town of Armant , is located about 12 miles south of Thebes, in Egypt. It was an important Middle Kingdom town, which was enlarged during the Eighteenth Dynasty. It is located today in the Qena Governorate, on the west bank of the Nile...
included a necropolis of sacred bulls, and was probably dedicated to his death. There are Coptic remains on the temple site.
Museum exhibits
What could be removed from the original structure, parts of the building and artifactsArtifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
, were taken to museums including the Karnak Open Air Museum
Karnak Open Air Museum
Karnak Open Air Museum, located in the northwest corner of the Precinct of Amon-Re, in the Karnak complex, in the city of Luxor, Egypt, the Open Air Museum contains reconstructions of structures that have been dismantled and buried or hidden inside the massive pylons in the complex.Notable amongst...
. Most of the temples statues are now located in various museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon and the Louvre.
External links
- Le temple de Montou à Medamoud (French language)