Jammer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Byrd,
"always"...
> While conducting research for you I stepped into
> the Amarna tarpit where the temples were open to
> Aten's light.
(chuckle) You know, that happens to me, too! I think I know stuff and go researching to make sure of the data and suddenly find myself in a whole new world and wondering at the strange and interesting things I find.
> Most Temple inner sanctums were built with many
> more columns than necessary to support the roof,
> such columns usually (shies away from always)
> carved as including lush foliage, with carvings
> along the wall of lush foliage below the wall
> panels, whose light was deliberately very dark by
> allowing only small rectangles near the roof to
> let in light, mandating the Priests carry torches
> or flares to bring the light to the isle of
> creation during ritual.
> This inner sanctum was designed to represent the
> Primeval Isle of Creation.
Interesting, intriguing -- and I didn't know that!
> Tradition appears to have dictated the actual
> shrine area be elevated and built in a style to
> represent the original archaic reed pillar alters.
Tradition layered upon tradition, then. At some point they may have forgotten the original reason.
> I have ordered two new books on Archaeology of
> Egyptian Temples and will post follow up links,
Lovely! Let us know what you got and what you thought about it and what quibbles you found. I know only a smidgen about them, myself... and am in the midst of a PhD (in information science) so my leisure reading time is almost nil.