Temple of Horemheb, Gebel el Silsila
Temples - Buildings - Builders & BuildingsWhat: Rock Cut Temple
Who: Commissioned by Pharaoh Horemheb, last pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty
When: Between 1319 – 1292BC
Where: Quarry of Gebel El Silsila
Dedicated to the God Amun and 6 other Gods associated with the Nile and the Aswan area, and Horemheb himself
The Temple was accessed via steps from the Nile. It has 5 openings formed by 4 pillars. Inside there is a vaulted hall that leads to the sanctuary. In the sanctuary are the 7 Statues of the Gods and the Pharaoh Horemheb
As with other Temples, all walls are covered in reliefs and inscriptions
Pharaoh Horemheb never completed the Temple and so the inscriptions were finalised by different Pharaohs and Nobles
2 of the Scenes are worth investigating:
1.) Victory of Horemheb shows the Pharaoh being carried on his lion-throne after a Nubian campaign, with his retinue and Nubian captives
2.) Goddess Tauret shows the Goddess in a rare human-headed form suckling a young Horemheb
The Great Speos also contains 2 chapels dedicated to the Nile, which belonged to 2 Viziers. One to the Vizier to Merenptah, called Panehesy, namely the Chapel of Panehesy and one to the Vizier to Ramesses II, called Paser, namely the Chapel of Paser.