8. Pylon

Along the southern processional route to the temple of Luxor the 8th Pylon was built or finished - possibly the Pylon was already begun during the reign of her father, Thutmosis I, or her husband, Thutmosis II - during the reign of Hatshepsut.

The decoration of this pylon is probably to be dated to the end of the reign of Hatshepsut (Martinez, "Le VIIIe pylone", quoted after Loeben, 2001). This is in agreement with the writing of the throne-name of Thutmosis III, "Men-kheper-ka-Ra" (see photo left), which according to the investigation of Brovarski (JEA 62, 1976) is testified only for the years of the co-regency (years 5 - 20).

As mentioned by Grimal and Larché (see: Cahiers de Karnak XII, part 2, p.492, 2007) the pylon was - amazingly - never mentioned in the inscriptions of Hatshepsut nor in those of Thutmosis III.

The pylon probably replaced the "Great southern gate" built by Amenhotep I. Some limestone blocks of this gate were recovered from the "Cour de la Cachette" (Grimal, Larché, Cahiers de Karnak XII, loc.cit.). Today, a lintel of the gate is exhibited in the Open Air Museum at Karnak and contains the specification of the gate height: approx. 10 m). However, at least it has been dismantled by Thutmosis III when he erected the 7th Pylon.

The 8th Pylon was decorated with the usual representations, among other things here for example on the west (left) wing of the south side "Pharao strikes the enemies of Egypt in front of Amun", but the decorations shows Amenhotep II and his Ka! Remnants of a longer and older text on both sides of the passage probably point to Hatshepsut, however, they are not to be deciphered anymore. Amenhotep II had re-decorated the front side(s). Beyond that the pylon shows a restoration text of Sethi I.

Beside the statues the photo above shows the damage of the pylon around the niches wherein the flagpoles had been mounted. Not every pylon had have his flagpoles although the niches intended for the flagpoles had been built. However, in some cases the niches had been (deliberately ?) built in such a way that it was not possible to mount the flagpoles. Pylons like the 8th Pylon of Hatshepsut which indeed had been equipped with flagpoles are easily recognized by damage of their niches as demonstrated by the photo above. These devastations result from conquests after the end of the New Kingdom - the conquerors liked to set fire to the flagpoles! As a result of the developing heat the stone at the corners of the niches had burst.

Inside the eastern wing (i.e. at the side of the "Holy Lake") of the pylon a staircase leads to the roof. However, since the bridge over the gate of the pylon has been destroyed the stairs end up suddenly (see photo below). Thus, the stairs are closed to avoid any danger.

Both sidewalls of the staircase surprise with graffiti from later times. These graffiti shows ceremonies performed in front of the 7th Pylon built by Thutmosis III. For sure, not everybody was privileged enough to attend the ceremonies at the court in front of the pylon, i.e. the majority of the people had been kept back at the 8th Pylon. These graffiti were most likely carved into the walls by visitors who were allowed - most likely as today after giving some baksheesh - to enter the roof of the pylon and to view the ceremonies from there.

In front of the west wing of the northern side of the pylon, next to the central passage, the remains of a statue made of schist (see the following photo) are mounted on a sandstone basis which is connected with the pylon. Loeben (2001) assumed that the statue hade been ordered by Hatshepsut who erected the pylon but most likely was not completed during her reign. Probably, the statue had been "finished" under one of the following rulers, however, due to the damages it cannot be determined which king the statue should represent.

Furthermore, in front of the west wing the remains of an enclosure wall (photo above) made of limestone are noticeable which still carries traces of an inscription (see photo below). The wall had been built on a basis of mud-bricks and reaches up to the height of the first register. According to Barguet (Le Temple d'Amon-Re à Karnak, 1962) this wall enclosed the whole pylon. Before the east wing of the north face no appropriate remainders are to be discovered, some remains should exist on the south face.

The upper part is rounded like a parapet wall. This enclosure wall lining the pylon is unique and its function is not known. Furthermore, the inscription on the wall is badly destroyed and no longer readable, so that it does not provide some information.

On the north side of the pylon the two registers of the east wing were "newly" decorated in the name of Thutmosis II and the three registers of the western wing in the name of Thutmosis III.

On the eastern wing, directly besides the passage, the scene in the 1st (upper) register depicts the goddess Weret-Hekau leading Thutmosis II to the left where Hathor is waiting and making njnj. The king is followed by a barque of Amun carried by priests (see following photo by: E. Noppes).

In the 2nd (lower) register Thutmosis I is depicted standing before the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu (red frame in the photo below taken by E. Noppes), In his speech Thutmosis I is expressing his thanks to the seated Amun for placing his daughter Hatshepsut (later changed to Thutmosis II) on the throne (see also Porter&Moss II, p. 174, scene No. 517; text see: Urk IV, 271 and subsequent passages).

Further east the first (upper) registers shows Sethi I before Amun and die smaller Ennead, below the scene the 2nd registers depicts Sethi I (with a renewal-text) offering wine to Amun and the greater Ennead.

The upper register shows in three scenes, from left to right the barque of Amun carried by priest, the king led by Monthu, finally, the king is presented by Weret-hekau to the enthroned Amun and Khons who is standing behind Amun. Behind the goddess Weret-hekau Thot is shown writing on heb-sed wands. Between the scenes there are renewal-texts from Sethi I.

In all three scenes the cartouches name Thutmosis II as the king depicted. However, as on the east wing the cartouches most likely had shown originally the name of Hatshepsut and had been altered during her persecution.

Furthermore, Murnane (Murnane, W.J., Tutankhamun on the Eighth Pylon at Karnak, VA 1, 1985) showed that the two damaged barks of Amon depicted on the north face of the Eighth Pylon were restored after the Amarna Period by Tutankhamun before they were usurped by Horemheb and Sethi I respectively.

In the course of the persecution of Hatshepsut her statues were not only re-assigned and the 8th Pylon newly decorated, but Thutmosis III erected between the temple district of Karnak and the 8th Pylon another - the 7th pylon that was definitely lager than the 8th Pylon - and a bark shrine (in the model shown below this bark shrine is to be seen in front of the 7th Pylon on its eastern wing). Beside the largest walking statues of a king erected up to then he further erected two obelisks (today one of it is standing in Istanbul).

The above picture shows a reconstruction of the North-South axis with the 8th Pylon (in front) and the 7th Pylon (to the back). The larger - however more badly preserved - 7th Pylon of Thutmosis III degraded the 8th Pylon of Hatshepsut to a small forecourt (the photo of this reconstruction was taken from Gerard Homann, a recommendable website showing at lot of reconstructions).