The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun at Karnak. Volume 1, Part 2 (Translation and Commentary) and Part 3 (Figures and Plates)

by Peter J. Brand, Rosa Erika Feleg and William J. Murnane

Book cover: The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun at Karnak. Volume 1, Part 2 (Translation and Commentary) and Part 3 (Figures and Plates)

Extent: 800 pages

Publisher: Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures

Subjects: Ancient Egypt

Series: Oriental Institute Publications

Series volume number: 142

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(March 2019)

ISBN: 9781614910275

9.09 x 11.77 inches

Price: $99.95

In stock

This 2-volume set contains full translation, epigraphic analysis, and photographic documentation of the wall reliefs inside the Great Hypostyle Hall of the Karnak Temple. This vast trove of ritual art and texts attest to the richness and vitality of Egyptian civilization at the height of its imperial power. 373 figs, 265 plates, 15 plans.


Standing at the heart of Karnak Temple, the Great Hypostyle Hall is a forest of 134 giant sandstone columns enclosed by massive walls. Sety I built the Great Hypostyle Hall ca. 1300 BCE and decorated the northern wing with exquisite bas reliefs. After his death, his successor Ramesses II completed the southern wing mostly in sunk relief. This volume provides full translation, epigraphic analysis, and photographic documentation of the elaborate wall reliefs inside the Hall. This vast trove of ritual art and texts attest to the richness and vitality of Egyptian civilization at the height of its imperial power. The present volume builds upon and serves as a companion to an earlier volume of drawings of the wall scenes made by Harold H. Nelson in the 1950s and edited for publication by William J. Murnane in 1981.

Table of Contents, part 2 (translation and commentary) List of Symbols and Abbreviations List of Plans Preface Acknowledgments 1. Constructing and Decorating the Great Hypostyle Hall 2. The Character and Chronology of the Relief Decoration of Sety I and Ramesses II in the Great Hypostyle Hall 3. General Characteristics of Nelson's Drawings 4. Translation and Commentary West Wall, Gateway (Plates 1-4, 41 left, 131-34, 262) West Wall, South Wing (Plates 5-41) South Wall (Plates 42-87) South Wall, West Wing (Plates 42-53) South Wall, Gateway (Plates 54-61, 87) South Wall, East Wing (Plates 62-79, 80-86) East Wall, South Wing (Plates 88-109, 130) West Wall, North Wing (Plates 135-70) North Wall (Plates 171-201) North Wall, West Wing (Plates 171-81) North Wall, East Wing (Plates 188-201) North Wall, Gateway (Plates 182-87) East Wall, North Wing (Plates 202-32) Vestibule of the Third Pylon (Plates 110-30 + 261, 233-57 + 265) Eastern Vestibule, North Wing (Plates 233-57, 265) Eastern Vestibule, South Wing (Plates 110-30, 261) Glossary Appendix A: Color on the Hieroglyphs Appendix B: Cartouches and Horus Names Appendix C: Protection Formulae Table of Contents, part 3 (figures and plates) List of Figures List of Plates Figures 1-373 Plates 1-265

Peter J. Brand received his PhD in Egyptology from the University of Toronto in 1998. He has worked as an epigraphist with the Karnak Hypostyle Hall Project since 1994 and became project director in 2000. His research focuses on epigraphic and historical aspects of New Kingdom temple inscriptions. His first book examined the monuments of Sety I. Rosa Erika Feleg is a doctoral student in Egyptology at the University of Memphis. Her research examines the epigraphy, architecture and ideological meaning of Ramesside monuments, especially the Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall and the Forecourt of Ramesses II in Luxor Temple. William J. Murnane (1945-2000) served on the staff of the Epigraphic Survey for several years before becoming a professor of history and Egyptology at the University of Memphis in 1986. He founded the Karnak Hypostyle Hall Project in 1990. His research encompassed chronological, epigraphic, and historical studies in Egyptology. He authored several books including Ancient Egyptian Coregencies, SAOC 40 (1977), and The Road to Kadesh, 2nd Edition, Revised, SAOC 42 (1990).

  • By (author) Peter J. Brand
  • By (author) Rosa Erika Feleg
  • By (author) William J. Murnane