Karnak jigsaw puzzles
Obelisks which disappeared more than a century ago from the Karnak Temple
are to be erected in their original positions. Nevine El-Aref reads
the new blueprints of the obelisks of Karnak
Royals of the Middle Kingdom decorated the Karnak Temple in Luxor with 17 perfectly sculpted limestone obelisks. All obelisks, apart from the Hatshepsut, Thutmose I and Seti II obelisks, which can be found at the entrance of the temple, and two other obelisks located in Rome and Istanbul, have been destroyed. They collapsed and now lie scattered among the temple ruins temple after a massive earthquake occurred in the 19th century. French Egyptologist Luc Gabolde from Le Centre National des Recherches Scientific (CNRS) in collaboration with the Le Centre Franco-Egyptian d'Étude des Temples de Karnak (CFEETK) is to prepare a blueprint of the Karnak obelisks in order for them to be reconstructed.
"The information contained within the blueprint is based on an architectural and epigraphic survey carried out on 850 fragments of block which were recently identified within the temple," Gabolde told Al-Ahram Weekly. For him, assembling these obelisks is not an easy task. "It is very difficult work that requires skill, passion and plenty of time," he said. "Each obelisk has four façades, each of which inscribed with similar scenes. This makes it difficult to decide which fragment belongs to which façade. It is like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle," he said.
From the 850 fragments, only seven obelisks have been identified and added to the blueprint.
The northern obelisk of Thutmose I
Only 70 fragments were recovered in front of the temple's fourth pylon. It was in a very critical condition but has now been restored and assembled.
The northern obelisk of Thutmose III
Despite the damage to its western façade, one third of each of the upper sections of the other façades are intact. Almost 40 fragments, extending approximately 10 metres in length, have been repositioned.
The southern obelisk of Tuthmosis III
This obelisk was found in front of the fourth pylon. The western façade sustained severe damage but it will be possible to reconstruct the carvings on its northern and southern façades. Around 30 fragments, reaching approximately 17.4 metres in length, have been assembled and 50 other pieces are waiting to be positioned.
The western obelisk of Tuthmosis III
The segments belonging to the lower section have been recovered, thereby facilitating reconstruction of the inscriptions which decorate the southern and western façades.
The eastern obelisks of Ramses II
All fragments belonging to these obelisks, mainly from the pedestals, have been replaced. This particular jigsaw puzzle is complete.
