Gebel el Silsila Survey Project: Seven weeks in - Stela of Amenhotep IV, Easter daredevils and Sham el Nessim

Gebel el Silsila Survey Project: Seven weeks in - Stela of Amenhotep IV, Easter daredevils and Sham el Nessim



Lots and lots of great info and pictures from our Luxor girl Maria

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Certainly the sight and documentation of the stela was worth the
trouble! With a clear due-north orientation and situated some 14 m above
the current ground level, this piece has captured the interest of
Amarna researchers and Akhenaten fans for generations, and thankfully it
is one of few monuments that has been protected by any modern
interference mainly due to its inaccessible location. However, as is the
case with many pre-Amarna scenes of the Atenist ruler, the depictions
of Amun, the king himself, and selected parts of the text have suffered
from the doom of damnatio memoriae. Thankfully for us, some of the
outlines of the previously deep carvings have survived the harsh
treatment of atenists, and a full reconstruction will be possible due to
our photographic documentation, acetate copies, and Dr. Martinez’
digital epigraphic skills.

Also, while being in this beautiful northern part of the
site, it was natural to record in detail the gorgeous Predynastic rock art
panels that are located nearby. Giraffes, hunter scenes, boats and other motifs
that have captured the essence of our Predynastic ancestors’ everyday life, all
came to life through the work of a good camera combined with acetate drawings!......................