Temple of Amun, Jebel Barkal
The Temple of Amun from Mount Barkal ( in the literature referred to as B.500 ) was the largest and most important temple in the Egyptian style within the ancient city Napata in Nubia. The temple, which was dedicated to Amun, was started as a small chapel at the foot of Mount Barkal in the Egyptian New Kingdom. Especially from about 750-300 BC, Napata was the capital of the Kushite Empire, the temple was the religious center of Nubia. He was referred to as Iepet - sut of Napata, so Karnak of Napata.
History
There are signs that the temple of Tuthmosis III. was founded. From this comes a great ruler stele was found at this location. The oldest still standing part comes from King Horemheb or Seti I (ca. 1290-1279 BC ). This building (ca. 1298 BC to 1213 BC ) expanded by Ramses II. It was a small temple with a first pylon and a farm with ten columns. There followed a second behind the pylon, a second courtyard, probably without pillars, behind which there were three chapels. Side were three other chapels.
This comparatively small temple Advanced Piye (about 746-715 / 713) about 450 years later. This was done in three steps. First, the old temple was reinforced by a wall and got another small portico ( 520). As a second step, a large hall was built with a total of 50 columns ( 502). Only the pillars, foundation walls and entrances consisted of sandstone, the remaining walls of unbaked bricks. Recently built Pije a large yard (501 ), which was also decorated with columns. The courtyard and the portico each had its own pylon. The whole temple complex was now about 150 meters long. From the temple decoration only remains are preserved. The large yard showed military scenes, which are in connection with the conquest of the ruler of Egypt. They should be regarded as complementary to his stele describes this in detail, and the conquest was here in situ 1862. This is also proved that the farm was built after the 21st year of the reign of Piye, the year when he invaded Egypt.
In the following years the temple was not significantly increased, but many rulers built here stelae, decorated walls or put statues on. Taharqa built here 10 colossal figures, the later rulers, up to Aspelta followed this model. Tanotamun erected in the portico a small barqueshrine. In the first courtyard, the large stelae of Piye and the Harsijotef were found. Another important part of the stele excavated here Aspelta. The Stele of Nastasen originates probably from here, even if it was excavated in Old Dongola. Achariten is here occupied by a statue Aktisanes by a decorated block. That the ruler of the Meroitic period, however, almost completely missing in the temple points to her less interested in this temple and at Napata in general. In the Roman campaign of Emperor Augustus in the years 25/24 BC the temple was finally destroyed. The last construction work on a large scale were probably held under Natakamani, his name was attach to the temple and certainly made the Roman devastation reversed. He restored especially the first pylon, but was built in other parts of the temple.
Especially at the time of Napatan Empire was the temple of great importance for the Kushite kingdom. Although the rulers of Meroe had their capital at an early stage, the throne began with a coronation journey that led to the first of Amun from Mount Barkal. Here the king went into the holy of holies, where he kingship was confirmed with the King oracle of divine side.
Today's state
The building is now received comparatively poor. There are still most foundations, so that you can make a good impression of the plan, but the remaining walls are far removed, so that especially most of the temple reliefs are lost. At the entrance are four rams, and fragments of a fifth set. Originally six rams were placed in front of the outer pylon, probably all came out of the temple of Soleb. Since 2003, the temple is situated, along with other buildings in the historic city of Napata and others in the region on the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.
Portico of Piye from southwest
One of four remaining in situ rams granite