The Sun Temples at Abu Ghurab

Most of the 5th Dynasty pharaohs, including six of the first seven, but built sun temples This reflects a significant change in the Egyptian religion. This trend only became extinct at the end of dynasty. They were obviously dedicated to the sun god Ra, who inspired many of the rest of the religious activities of the King. During this period, and is to re-the closest equivalent to the case of Egypt "and" God. Such hierarchies of sun temples had their agricultural land, and donations received during the holidays, and the structure of their own personal and we know of six such temples, because we found their names in the inscriptions, but unfortunately, only two were not actually detected. We both know from the temples of the sun and Weserkaf Niuserre, including Niuserre is the best preserved. However, preserved in this case only means that we can make some structure out from under the rubble.
It should be noted is interesting that at this point. It is believed some Egyptologists now another "lost" temples never existed. In contrast, speculate that the kings who built and added two famous temples may be, in fact, raped them, and to provide churches with new names after improvement.
Temple of the Sun from Niuserre
Niuserre Temple of the Sun 'is located in Abu Ghurob (Abu-crow), not far from the abuse, where the pyramid was 5 Many kings and other dynasty built their pyramids as well. Abu Ghurob located about six miles southwest of Cairo. Years ago, was known before that the purpose of Niuserre structure, and was called the "pyramid Righa" by travelers. Niuserre Temple of the Sun was originally excavated by German archaeologist, Ludwig Borchardt and Heinrich Schafer, between 1898 and 1901. We believe it was originally provided with walls of adobe, which constitute the network, which was then filled with rubble. Later, the coverage of these bricks "Hold" cover the walls with blocks of yellow limestone. Primarily of three main components, which consists of the valley temple in the desert or in the temple top, and a bridge linking the two countries. The name of the Temple of the Sun was originally a "re-joy."
This valley temple was really only the pylon which is the entrance to the corridor. It was built in the enclosure with thick walls, which Borchardt seem to believe the old city walls, and therefore did not verify the structure. There is also a problem that very little of it remains, and what is in shallow water. However, we believe that at the front (northeast) between the tower and facade of white limestone fine, there was the entrance porch columns with four columns of palm trees. Moreover, on both sides of the building, apparently balconies narrow lanes leading to the gateway. Way along the upper part of the structure built over a natural rock platform.
Everything inside the temple top seems to have been built around a huge obelisk and the structure of the building may symbolize benben. Benben and had a relationship similar to the religion of the sun god, the re-incarnated. The epicenter was located directly behind (west) of the altar facing the courtyard. Within the fence Niuserre, benben believe that the structure was 36 meters (118 feet) tall. At a height of 20 meters throw (65 feet, 6 inches) tall. Both the obelisk and reduce the podium, which stood, construction and buildings is not homogeneous. The obelisk was built as a structure of blocks of limestone, while the statue is also of limestone with a base of red granite.
Against the south of the obelisk erected a small structure separate so-called "centers of the camera. Seems to have been important within the structure of the temple. Why they call home," chapters "because it was decorated with relief from many of the scenes of nature, which of course was the Kingdom of the sun god. These scenes including three harvests (Shemu) and floods (sister) and unfortunately lost, and left (Piraeus). right in front (east) in the House "from the Seasons" was a chapel decorated with scenes from the dedication of the temple. Unfortunately, these reductions apply Stone poor reinforced with a layer of plaster, lime and was in poor condition. to make matters worse, and sent many of the inscriptions on the museums in Germany, where many of them have been destroyed during World War II.
In the temple top, opening the path to cover a large open courtyard surrounded by the north line of attachments (magazine storage). There was also a field for cattle to be slaughtered in the north and offerings to the god of the sun. Slaughtered this area, where found, including the limestone pavement has been raised about 13 centimeters (6 inches) above the court level of the surroundings. There were channels on the upper surface of the care that may deplete in a line of nine alabaster basins Overview 1,18 m (3 feet, 8 inches) in diameter. However, some Egyptologists (Miroslav Verner) believe that this area is not for slaughter, because there is no anchor stone and flint knives, bone, if any, evidence that was present in other locations where animals were slaughtered. Other similar but smaller area just north of the obelisk, with seven yards of limestone each had three drains. Obviously, these areas have been used for slaughter, or some kind of ritual involving the purification of fluids.
Near the center of the square were four major, while the side altar of alabaster Hotep consists of four indicators directed towards the main points and surrounding a large disk of solar energy. This means signing Hotep "progress" satisfied "or" peace "and there is usually at the bottom of the false doors in the tombs of the ancient state. Altar was actually says" re satisfied in the four main directions. The central element, cylindrical block of marble, with a diameter of 1.8 meters (6 feet). The epicenter was located directly in front (east) of the obelisk. To the south-west of the altar in the southeastern corner of the obelisk was the opening in prayer and devotion, which also allows access to the "stations of the camera.
In the entrance hall with the form of T-temple of the reasons hatchback lined with granite. Those in the Downtown Square bullets. Those on one side and gave the corridors leading to the right and left, overlooking the courtyard. Corridor on the right looks to drive around the edge of attachments on the storage yard. At the eastern end of this corridor was a stairway leading to the surface. Corridor on the left (south) just lead around the yard to facilitate access to the former "Darfur", thus consecrating the church. Both input and outside the corridors were decorated with scenes of the festival dam, including some of the first to know, it is assumed to be oriented toward the king and his relationship with the restart.
In addition to the similarities between the sun temples, especially in the complex ancient pyramids on the outskirts of the temple have been found to block the construction of a solar boat.
Interestingly, it was Ramses II, this temple was renovated in the New Kingdom, and perhaps a phone call from his son, Khaemwese, the High Priest in the Temple of Ptah in Memphis. Khaemwese taken an interest in the traditional construction in northern Egypt, and after consultation with his father, on a range of restoration of these structures. But, as in the mud brick structures to do, and suddenly deteriorated again.
Temple of the Sun from Weserkaf
Temple of the Sun, Weserkaf is actually in the middle of the road between the attack and Niuserre Temple of the Sun, as is generally known abusers. However, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, while more than 5 kings of the dynasty built its users. Prospecting by Rick Herbert and Gerhard Haeny in 1950. As Niuserre and complex, which is located on a promontory on the edge of the desert. Weserkaf complex is not only the oldest of the two, but it was the first of those that have been built, and perhaps the real structure, built in the abuses. If there is a priority for the temple, it may be 4th Dynasty temple of the Sphinx in Giza, the Great, which seems to paradise dedicated to the sun god, and may involve the ritual activity similar to those carried out in 5 strain of the Sun Temple of the Sun Temple is also in the complex much more in ruins after Niuserre. Moreover, because the short reign of this king, were not completed during his lifetime.
I had the same components Niuserre the temple, including the valley temple and the temple top. However, the Temple of the Valley is more complex, and seems to have served many purposes because it is not less than five shrines and rituals in front of them is an open forum with the columns of sixteen. To some extent, this is similar to a large extent in the courtyard of the church and many of the pyramids, in the courtyard of sitting in front of a Baptist chapel with five ports of the statue. There may be at the entrance to the hall with its annexes, and the devastation, but such that a part of this temple can not be determined.
Valley temple was surrounded on both sides and behind the curtain wall, which opened in the southwest corner on the road. Weiner suggests that the bulls have been brought to this area of open space to the north-east and then progress through the main corridor for the road to the temple top.
The road was divided into three lanes of low mud - brick walls thin. Middle Passage was very broad, while the two narrow lanes and abroad. Interestingly, this was the bridge from the valley temple, and both apparently directed towards Heliopolis. This also refers to a strain of 5, the pyramids of abuse, and many of them together form a line pointing to the new Egypt, such as the Pyramids of Giza. Ronald Wells believes that the temple may also have been aligned with some of the stars that had risen on the horizon around 2400 BC. If this is true, this could also mean that the valley temple Weserkaf an astronomical clock for the sacrifices in the morning.
Archeologists believe that the top of the temple was probably built in stages. Originally, instead of the obelisk, which could have been on the mast with a high mound surrounded by a wall of rectangular shape, does not differ from the Temple Mount in Hierakonpolis, known in ancient Egypt as Nekhen. In fact, the name of the compound is Weserkaf Nekhen - renewable energy, which means "power of Ra." Therefore, it has been linked in name, form and orientation of the sun cult Heliopolitan the Old Kingdom.
Temple on what seemed to be higher through four stages to build more than that, some have been completed before the start of the project earlier. This work was all done under the supervision of Weserkaf. Neferirkara Niuserre and both seem to have added to the temple, if not in other regions.
In the second phase of construction, and Neferirkara Obelisk of granite. Base of the statue is covered with quartz and granite place amid the ruins of the temple. There was a winding path that led to the surface of the statue, and the Treasury. In the third stage, the location on the obelisk has been totally rebuilt, with the addition to the inner wall of the container, and the chambers of the limestone, which was not fully dressed to start the fourth phase of work. In Phase IV, on the external surfaces were wearing plastered adobe.
In the first phase of five years, on the altar made of bricks is on the eastern side of the rule, although there were massacres and perhaps before that. If animals were slaughtered for sacrifice, however, was burned areas on the altar, in spite of the Palermo stone The two bulls and two geese were slaughtered daily in the temple of the sun Weserkaf. The altar was surrounded by a fence strange short. In front of the altar (east) and on both sides and placed in a niche
To the east (towards the front of the temple) of the altar five seats or tables are made of mud and broken rock. Rick thought they were to select the bids, or perhaps for the banks of the priests. Priests and workers were traditionally organized into five phyles and within a bank and found the road sign Who (large) file, which can be compelling evidence that the banks were used by priests.