Serabit el-Khadim

Serabit el- Chadim (Arabic سرابيط الخادم ) is an archaeological place in the Sinai Peninsula.

The village is located halfway down the west coast, in southwestern Sinai, about 10 km north of the Wadi Maghara. He is one of the most important region of ancient Egyptian offices around the Sinai Peninsula and served mainly as a mining site of copper and turquoise. Here especially the goddess Hathor were " revered master of the eastern desert " as " Mistress of Turquoise " and Sopdu as.

History

Egyptian influences in the Sinai are already established until the Early Dynastic period. The peninsula was searched from the Old to the New Kingdom for mineral resources.

Temple Complex

In Serabit al - Chadim is an unusual temple complex of shrines and sanctuaries, which was mainly dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of protection of workers in the copper and turquoise mines. The temple is not as usual axisymmetric, but had to be adapted to local conditions. It is rather an irregular, by a ring wall of quarry stone encompassed quadrangle of about 100 m in length.

The main entrance was located on the western side of the narrow and flanked by stelae of Ramses II and Sethnacht. In East-West direction lined up to fourteen courtyard, walled up from handle carved blocks, pillars rooms that were created 18 to 20 Dynasty. The larger courtyard probably dates from the Middle Kingdom. In the innermost corner housed the cult caves of Hathor and the Sopdu that of Amenemhat III. and Amenemhet IV were applied side by side in the southeast corner of the yard and are among the oldest rock temples of Egypt.

Finds

Among the most important finds are stelae and inscriptions, which provide information on expedition activities information.

In addition, broken alabaster and faience votive, and many royal and private sculptures, totems and sacrificial stand were found in thick layers, which extend up to the time of King Sneferu. In the ante-rooms of the Shrines to water basin that indicate ablutions were. Under the sanctuary of the New Kingdom also thick layers were found from softwood ash that indicate intense incense and worship customs of neighboring Canaan.