The archaeological excavations of the ancient town of Elephantine near Aswan, conducted by the German Institute and the Swiss Institute in Cairo, have brought to light numerous scattered blocks and fragments of the Ptolemaic and Roman periods (330 BC - 100 AD). These blocks are the only remaining evidence of so far unknown structures that were entirely dismantled during the Late Antiquity and of which no traces about their location or form exist today. Following the epigraphical study by the Egyptologist Ewa Laskowska-Kusztal, an architectural study was carried out in order to propose restitution hypothesis of the original structures.
The restitution study of the "Baukomplex X", was undertaken on the basis of very limited material consisting solely of 118 small blocks decorated mainly with the name of Ptolemy IV Philopator (240-205 BC), but with a few elements bearing the name of Ptolemy V Epiphanes (204–181 BC). Despite the incomplete nature of the material, the study made it possible to propose reconstruction hypotheses showing a temple with two adjoining rooms, preceded by an open courtyard-type space. This type of temple is widely represented in the Ptolemaic period, and many examples can be found in the Aswan region, particularly on the island of Philae. Some of these examples were built by Ptolemy IV himself (the temple of Arensnuphis at Philae, the temple of Thoth at Dakka).
Christian Ubertini 2001
Schweizerisches Institut für Ägyptische Bauforschung und Altertumskunde in Kairo
Bibliography
- C. Ubertini, Restitution architecturale à partir des blocs et fragments épars d'époque ptolémaïque et romaine. AV 120, Elephantine XXXIV, Mainz 2005.
- E. Laskowska-Kusztal, Die Dekorfragmente der ptolemäisch-römischen Tempel von Elephantine, Elephantine XV, Mainz 1996.