The location of the Kamutef temple and the way-station was already registered on the Karnak map in the "Description", indeed, inexactly in relation to the surrounding buildings. However, in the text of the "Description" the buildings was not mentioned.

During the Lepsius expedition in 19. century the accessible remains of the buildings were measured  and registered on the "Situationsplan der Ruinen von Karnak". On the request of Borchardt the Egyptian Council of Antiquities arranged the excavation of both temples. In 1936 Chevrier excavated the way-station, further investigations were carried out in 1937 by Ricke.

The following description is based on publication of Ricke (Ricke, H., "Das Kamutef-Heiligtum Hatschepsut's und Thutmosis' III. Bericht über eine Ausgrabung vor dem Mutempelbezirk.", 1954), obviously, there are no newer reports on excavations.

Both temples are destroyed to a great extent. Ricke assigns the remains to the east of procession way to one single building, the temple of the Kamutef. During his excavations Ricke could not reconstruct the temple in all areas with certainty, but he could show that the building had been erected in several phases.

Attempt of a reconstruction of the temple of Kamutef after the first building phase (according to: Ricke, 1954)

The ground plan of the original temple is arranged clearly (see above). A forecourt (1) extended across the whole width and two fifths of the depth. Behind the forecourt three equally large wings extended in west-east direction.

The middle wing formed a the strictly symmetrical main-temple which was accessible only from the forecourt. The entrance led into vestibule (2; width: 9.50 m, depth: 8.50 m) whose roof was carried by four 16-square pillars. From the pillars Ricke still found the bases or the lowest drums.

To the east an almost square room (3; about 4 m on each side) followed which possibly had no ceiling. To both sides of this room there was in each case a small chapel with an anteroom 4, 5 and 6, 7). Remains of a relief in room 5 proved that the rooms 5 and 7 had been chapels. From the rear wall in room 5 remains were found which showed a king who was led by a goddess (right) in front of a god (left). From the room 7 a part of the rear wall was found, with a representation of the god "Amun-Ra-Kamutef, with high feathers, who praises his beauty" (see the next picture).

Remains of the rear wall of room 7 (according to: Ricke, 1954)

Finally, behind the square room there followed a central room (4) with three shrines on the east wall (each shrine  9 - 11 was about 2 ells ~ 105 cm in width) which each accommodated a statue. On both sides of the central room opened a row of three little rooms (12 - 14; 15 - 17) one behind the other which could only accessed by the first room. Due to their position and the arrangement of the doors rooms 12 - 14 und 15 - 17 were presumably no chapels, but storerooms for cult objects.

Both outer wings had only one entrance from the forecourt (1). They were presumably  constructed symmetrically and consisted of a row of chapels (in each case erected on the side of the central wing). On both sides there was enough space for 9 chapels but Ricke could prove with certainty only 7 on the north side (18 - 26) and only 5 chapels on the south side (28 - 36).

Based on the findings in rooms 18 - 21 Ricke could prove that the rooms 18 - 26 on the north side and 28 - 36 on the south side had been chapels and not storerooms. In the room 18 lay the upper part of a Hathor-symbol (sandstone; 90 cm high, 40 cm wide). In the room 19 the strongly disintegrated basis of a group-statue (dark-grey granite) was found, with 2 pair of feet  on both sides of a rear wall. The leftovers of the inscriptions proved that every couple contained the statue of a king named Senwosret (presumably Senwosret I.) whose feet stood on "Nine Bows".

In room 20 the remains of a life-sized dyad (yellow-red quartzite) were found. The group shows a masculine and a feminine figure seated side by side on a throne.

Today, this dyad lies outside the temple district directly right from the entrance. Since the group is lying on its left side the photo above has been turned clockwise. The drawing below shows a reconstruction of the dyad (according to Ricke, 1954; data in cm).

The masculine figure wears king's apron, belt, and (recognizably between the legs) a bulls tail. On her left side the rear pillar has been extended beyond the throne. On the preserved lower part the pattern of squares indicates lettuce garden (see photo below). Because the left arm of the figure nowhere shows up in the sculpture, the arm was probably raised in the posture typical for Min. Hence, Ricke also supposes a flail above the upraised arm.

The feminine figure wears a tightly fitting garment, the right arm is broken away together with the hand which lay on the right thigh. It can not be ascertained anymore whom this figure shows, a goddess (e.g., Amaunet) or a queen. Ricke who dated the group on account of the modeling of the bodies into the early 18th dynasty favors a representation of Hatshepsut.

Likewise in room 21 stood a presumably full-sized statue (sandstone) of a seated figure from which only the strongly disintegrated basis and a few toes have been left.

That the original temple as shown above had been established as a uniform building and was the oldest part, arises according to Ricke from the remains of the temple. Especially, the bad condition of the north and south wing demanded to some assumptions. Nevertheless, the preparatory drawing on the plaster, small remaining of the building, and the strong symmetrical arrangement of the central temple allowed to reconstruct the plan of the temple.

How the two rooms 27 and 37 which lay in west-east direction in front of the chapels were designed could not be reconstructed anymore due to the bad condition. Thus, it is unclear whether these 5 m wide rooms opened up to the sky or whether they had a roof probably carried by columns or pillars. Only for the northern room (27) an outer wall could be proved.

Also it could not be clarified anymore where the west front of the temple lay and how the forecourt (1) was built. Hence, the above drawing describes only one possible reconstruction.

Based on the preserved relief fragments Ricke concluded that the original temple had been erected by Hatshepsut. This arises, above all, from the remains of name friezes (cryptograms), Horus- and throne names of Hatshepsut. All her names were chiseled away under Thutmosis III, in some cases they were replaced with his own names. Later Sethos I and Ramses IV have also attached their names in the temple.

Extension and Alterations

Possibly the building was already changed a few years after it had been erected. On the whole length along the north side the building was complemented by a courtyard and several rooms on its west side. From the extension only the foundation and a few small parts of the walls have been preserved. The foundation were added carefully to the foundation of the main temple and thereby proved that the building unambiguously was an extension.

The investigation of the foundation proved furthermore that the extension was established in two phases. In the 1st phase the foundation was laid to approx. 1.5 m before the western front of the main temple, although the preparatory drawing shows that it was originally planned to built a common western front together with the main temple. Thereafter, in the 2nd phase the foundation of the building was extended to the west and now ended up, as originally intended, together with the main temple. However, the extension was obviously never finished, because the plaster was smoothed only on the top so far as it was necessary to erect walls.

The annex could be reconstructed only vaguely, drawings of earlier visitors turned out to be of limited help. Furthermore, the annex could not be dated with certainty. On account of the preparatory drawings, the masonry and the treatment of the stones it seems to have been built in the early 18th dynasty. Nevertheless, conspicuously was the absence of every remains which would point to Hatshepsut. Instead of this some remains of Thutmosis III were found. Thus, it would be conceivable on one hand that the annex had been established under Thutmosis III, on the other hand, it could have been built also by Hatshepsut and decorated later by Thutmosis III. In the end, the small number of remains which point to Thutmosis III could also come from the main temple. However, finally Ricke was convinced that the annex had been built in the 18th dynasty.

On the west side of the building two porticos were build, one after the other on the temple axis. Before they were erected probably the west wall of the forecourt, the foundation and all buildings if there were any built under Hatshepsut were taken down. The western enclosure wall was replaced, however, only a few remains were found.

The internal portico from at least 4 columns was inserted in the forecourt. Nevertheless, the execution of construction was so bad that barely has been preserved a little bit. The portico was probably already destroyed in the antiquity, because some columns were placed without foundation on the Nile-mud ground. Here and there, the stones had been decomposed by the rising ground water and their contours were only recognizable as a discoloration in the ground.

The outer hall which consisted of two rows with three columns had been built as badly as the internal hall. The columns of this hall had been connected with thin barriers (Intercolumniar barriers) whose preparatory drawing on the plaster has been preserved as well as the remains of such a barrier. At the western end the outer portico was closed by a gate.

The time of origin of both porticos could be supposed only by the remains because no inscriptions were found. Reflections about the chronological appearance of some stylistic elements let Ricke suppose that the temple was restored after partial destruction of Thebes by the Assyrians (i.e. in the 26. [saite] Dynasty during the rule of Psamtec I by a local prince called Montu-em-hat). Ricke supposed that during this restoration both porticos had been erected.

Attempt of a reconstruction of the temple of Kamutef after the 2nd and 2nd building phase (according to: Ricke, 1954)

The whole temple district was surrounded by an enclosure wall (hatched in the plan above). North of the north-east corner of the annex Ricke found the remains a brick wall which had been built on a foundation of massive stone blocks. The temple district was to be entered from the west side as indicated by the remains a gate about 40 ms away from the original temple house. Scattered in front of the gate the remains of quartzite blocks were found which probably belonged to several giant statues which had been put up there in front of the gate.

The date of erection of both the gate and the brick wall remained uncertain. Brick stamps were not found and the brick format did not allow a chronological classification. Hence, it is possible that the enclosure wall has already built in the early 18th dynasty (under Hatshepsut or Thutmosis III).

Nevertheless, the western gate was established much later, because under the preserved blocks two were found which came from the opposite way-station (which therefore was not used anymore at the time of the erection of the gate). A lying around granite block which has presumably belonged to the outer wall of the gate carries the name of the Psamtec I - thus, the erection of the gate can be ascribed to this king.

Ricke could not determine the earlier circumference of the temple district, because he found neither on the east nor on the south side remains of the enclosure wall. Whether already under Hatshepsut a gate and an enclosure wall had been built where he has found remains of them cannot be likewise ascertained.

Copyright: Dr. Karl H. Leser (Iufaa)