Opening the Gate

Clearing the Taharqa Gate is one of the season’s main goals, a goal we achieved, at least in part, this week: the north wing of the gate is visible from top to bottom, along with some of the ancient paving. On the left you are looking from the east end to the west. On the right, the arrow (indicating north) points at the original pivot for the gate’s door. The darker areas of stone were buried until this year.

Earlier in the week, we discovered that the limestone south jamb of the door in the wall running across the gate is a re-used block inscribed on both the east and south sides. You can see the inscription on the east face in the photo on the left. You can also see how fragile and fractured the block is. Removing the dirt from the inscribed surfaces without causing further damage calls for skill and patience, both of which Khaled (right) has in abundance.

Jaap and Khaled discuss the block and its texts (left), which Jaap copies as they are revealed (right). The copying is complicated by the fact that the block is upside down as well as badly fractured.

By week’s end both faces of the block are fully visible (left), although more conservation needs to be done before the block can be moved safely. On the right are Jaap’s notes (now part of the Expedition’s records) showing the dimensions of the block and both inscriptions.

And here are texts themselves, shown in their proper orientation. The inscription on the east side (left) is the top of a column of text that starts with a sign for heaven followed by “Great Mut, Mistress of Isheru” (the precinct’s sacred lake), one of Mut’s most common titles. The inscription on the south side (right) is part of an offering text in which Montuemhat offers cool water and wine to the goddess. Montuemhat, a powerful official under Taharqa, was responsible for a great deal of work in the Mut Precinct. This block may have come from a chapel he built within the precinct.

Two weeks ago we showed a photo of Bill and me inspecting a decorated block half-buried in dirt south of the Taharqa Gate. The arrow in the left photo points to the block, which became more visible as we began clearing the area this week; it is one of a number of blocks fallen from the gate and shows the lower part of a kneeling hapy figure (right), a type of “Nile” god that frequently represents fertility.

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