Ancient Egypt Letters 140

This article is from Ancient Egypt issue 140

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Dear Editor,

I have a question that I have not been able to resolve with my own research. I want to find the archaeological dating of the defacement of Hatshepsut’s images at Djeser Djeseru [her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri] and other sites. Did her successor have the removal work done immediately after her funeral? If not, when? Did the people who worked in those places and visitors just pass by damaged gaps in an otherwise undamaged wall of art? Mortuary temples were much like presidential libraries today, archives of history – not just the history of a leader, but of the entire nation during the time of that leader. How does the defacement of just one image fit in?

My assumption has been that the weathering of those defaced surfaces was compared to the weathering of the remaining artwork, yet I cannot find anything about it. Perhaps you know whom I might ask?

RAMONA LOUISE WHEELER

Dear Ramona,

Having noticed a relevant article in the latest issue of the Egypt Exploration Society’s magazine Egyptian Archaeology, I contacted Campbell Price on your behalf. As well as being one of our staff contributors, Campbell is Chair of the Trustees of the Egypt Exploration Society.

EDITOR

The precise nature, extent, and timing of the defacement of Hatshepsut’s images continues to be the subject of ongoing debate. For a long time, it has been accepted that the proscription of Hatshepsut’s images at Karnak by her successor Thutmose III is unlikely to have been seriously pursued until at least 20 years after her death. Recent work by PhD researcher Jun Wong at Djeser Djeseru (in part funded by the Egypt Exploration Society) carries the significant implication that some sculptural images went not only undamaged, but were actively weathered by exposure. I strongly recommend, as current Chair of the EES, that you follow the work of the Society to find out more about Jun’s fascinating work!

CAMPBELL PRICE

Email the Editor: peter@ancientegyptmagazine.com with your comments.