Vibrant Ceiling Frescoes Depicting Egyptian Goddesses Discovered In The Temple Of Khnum At Esna

The relief images in the central section of the ceiling make up a total of 46 depictions of the Upper-Egyptian vulture goddess Nekhbet and Lower-Egyptian serpent goddess Wadjet.

New Delhi: German and Egyptian researchers have uncovered a series of vibrantly-coloured ceiling frescoes in the Temple of Khnum at Esna, Upper Egypt. The relief images in the central section of the ceiling make up a total of 46 depictions of the Upper-Egyptian vulture goddess Nekhbet and Lower-Egyptian serpent goddess Wadjet, according to Professor Christian Leitz from the University of Tübingen. 

Both the Egyptian goddesses are depicted as vultures with outspread wings. Nekhbet is recognised by the head of a vulture and the white crown of Upper Egypt, while Wadjet can be recognised by the Lower-Egyptian crown topped with a cobra, a statement released by the University of Tübingen said.

Since 2018, researchers from the Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the University of Tübingen and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities have been working to uncover the reliefs, paintings and inscriptions in the temple and once more reveal their original colours. 

What Has Helped Conserve Colours In The Temple For 2,000 Years?

In the statement, Leitz said temples and ancient depictions of the gods were often painted in brilliant colours, but these have usually faded or even disappeared totally as a result of external influences. The colours in the Temple of Khnum at Esna have been covered by a coating of dust and soot for almost 2,000 years, and this has helped to conserve them.

According to the statement, the glory of the colour used in the depictions of the "Two Ladies" Nekhbet and Wadjet, which has now been revealed, was previously unknown to experts. Tübingen scientist Dr Daniel von Recklinghausen said that from the 1950s, the French Egyptologist Serge Sauneron systematically documented the Temple of Khnum at Esna and the paintings that were visible at that time. He added that the temple's complete range of images is unique in its wealth of figures and the state of preservation of colours.

A team headed by Ahmed Emam from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has cleaned, conserved, and documented more than half of the ceilings and eight of the 18 columns. Also, the two architraves, which are horizontal beams that support the superstructure, of the central section of the ceiling have been cleaned of soot, the statement said.

Leitz said that for the first time, one can see all the decorative elements in relation to one another. He further said this was impossible simply with Sauneron's publication. According to the statement, the Tübingen Egyptologist is currently planning a translation of all the Esna inscriptions, and is also studying the connections between the various inscriptions and the depictions in the interior of the temple.

What Is Special About The Vestibule Of The Temple Of Khnum At Esna?

The vestibule, known as pronaos, of the Temple of Khnum at Esna is located 60 kilometres south of Luxor. The sandstone construction, which measures 37 metres in length, 20 metres in width, and 15 metres in height, was set before the actual temple no later than the time of the Roman Emperor Claudius (41-54 CE). The structure may well have overshadowed the temple. 

The location of the vestibule at the centre of the city is a possible reason why the structure was preserved, unlike other buildings, and was not used as a source of stone for construction during the industrialisation of Egypt, the statement said.

The pronaos, as early as Napoleon's time attracted considerable attention in specialist circles, as it was regarded as the ideal of Ancient Egyptian temple architecture.