TEMPLE OF GOURNAH
( in western part of Thebes )

Among constructions of Sethy Ist , temple of Gournah is the prior temple before the famous Ramesseum . It is , in fact , a temple of millions of years , which name was : "Glorious temple of Sethy Merenptah in the domaine of Amon who reside in the West of Thebes ." This temple was one of the first which was visited in the famous Beautiful Festival Valley , festival in which celebrated in the western part of Thèbes culte of death Kings and all deceads . This temple is a so called Temple of millions of years as we can read on inscription in the north part of this temple : : "Life Horus the Strong Bull , rising in Thebes , who give life the Two Lands . . . . Thebes , grest in monuments in the Domaine of Amon , King of Upper and Lower Egypte , Lord of Two Lands , Menmaatrê hair of Rê, who made in monuments to his father Amon-Rê, Lord of the throne of Two Lands which id before Karnak ( Ipet Sout )" . or more else : " he made in his monuments to his father Amon-Rê , the King of the Gods ; he built a temple of millions of years ." References = KRI I,214, lines 10 & 11 puis 14 .

This temple was built in sandstone and deviced as a real house of gods , It served as model for the temples of millions of years which follow Sethy ' one . One main function , but not the only one , was to take in divines barks since then the famous processional festival which started the day after the new moon of the secon month of seaon of Shemu ( see Web page on this site devoted to calender .
Main function of this temple was celebration of unit of Deceased King and the God Amun , king became in that way Sethy-Amun . By simple devotion of a son Sethy dedicate the south part of the temple to Ramses Ist , his father . In fact thsi last one had no time to built himself an own temple of millions of years .
This templis is , in tree parts , with main axe principal in east-west center ( which correspond to the wander of the Sun in the sky in fact Râ . This symbolic was influenced by the funerary temple of Ay , predecessor of Horemheb .
This north part was devoted to Râ , with an open court for the solar cult . The central part was dediaced to Amun and the King , south parti to Amun and to Sethy's father .
This temple was inacheved by Sethy , but by his som Ramses II , we can notice the coexistance with the two styles , high and low reliefs , as explained in the Web page on the Choice of Sethy .

Map of the Temple : it ' s here !

Modern view of the Temple .
Vue of the Temple in the beginning of the last Century . , according to an aquarelle .
North-west hall , coregency scene of Ramesses II and Sethy . , Ramesses II , kneeling , crowned by Mut ( on right ) and Amun ( center ) , behind Khunsu standing up and Sethy Ist , ( rf = Lepsius Denkmäler III , 150 , e ) .

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