University of Memphis students will have the opportunity tolearn about and see first hand the restoration work being done onan ancient Egyptian structure by the Institute of Egyptian Art andArchaeology at a lecture tonight.
The Karnak Hypostyle Hall project has been ongoing since 1990 torecord and protect the epigraphy (hieroglyphics) written on thewalls of the hall, said IEAA Director Peter J. Branch.
Though the IEAA has devoted 14 years to the restoration, theproject will continue for some time, one reason being the sheersize of the structure.
"The building is big enough to fit the Notre Dame Cathedral in,"Branch said., "It has 134 columns, each 170 feet tall, and everysquare inch of the place is covered in inscriptions," Branchsaid.
Egyptians used the Karnak Hypostyle Hall as a festival hall forvarious religious ceremonies and rituals.
"It was God's living room, you could say," Branch said.
Historians can tell what events took place in the hall becausethe Egyptians inscribed all of the happenings on the walls.
"The inscriptions are text and pictorial scenes related toreligious practices," Branch said.
Many of the scenes on the walls are of the king interacting withGod, Branch said. The outside walls, however, depict battle scenesinvolving Sevy the First and Ramsey the Second, whose battle sceneshave been more difficult to decipher, Branch said.
"It's been very interesting, because two different versions wereinscribed on top of each other," Branch said. "Apparently, Ramseychanged his mind about the inscriptions and had different sceneswritten over what was there."
The Egyptians fought a 20-year war with rivaling neighbors, andBranch said he hopes to learn through the inscriptions how the twosides eventually resolved their differences.
"We hope to find out how they went from constant war to signingone of the world's first peace treaties," Branch said.
Two challenges faced by the IEAA in recording the epigraphy isthe age of the structure and the area's groundwater.
The 3,300-year-old structure was abandoned and partially buriedfor more than 1,000 years, which can pose a problem forarcheologists.
"The buried parts, when exposed to air, become very fragile,"Branch said.
The groundwater decaying parts of the structure was an issueeven for the Egyptians, who had to rebuild the lower 2 feet of itwith new stone, Branch said.
The inscriptions are important because they tell so much aboutEgyptian art and culture, Branch said.
"They are an encyclopedia of sorts that show all kinds ofdifferent aspects of Egypt," he said.
The lack of funding and the distance from Memphis are alsofactors in the project's difficulties.
"We try to go every year, but we didn't get to go last yearbecause of the war," Branch said. "We hope to go back thisfall."
One thing U of M students may not realize about the KarnakHypostyle Hall is that they have probably already seen it.
The structure has appeared in many films, including some JamesBond movies.
"I recall a funny old movie where they used it as the bedroom ofa queen," Branch said.
U of M students can view an illustrated lecture about the KarnakHypostyle Hall at Mitchell Hall Auditorium today at 7 p.m. Thelecture will be preceded by a reception at 6:30 p.m.
