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Chapels east of the enclosure wall of the main Ptolemaic temple

Another group of cult structures is located to the east of the enclosure wall of the main Ptolemaic temple. On the lower slopes of Qurnet Mura'i lay remains of two buildings, one of which was classified by Bruyère as a temple, photographs and discussion of which can be found on the "Temples" page. The other remains belong to the small Ramesside chapel situated opposite the southeast corner of the enclosure wall.
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The chapel was cut into the cliff of Qurnet Mura'i. It consisted of a hall, pronaos and sanctuary. The hall was entered via a flight of steps. It contained two benches, one along the southern wall, another one opposite, along the northern wall.
Four steps with a balustrade led to the pronaos, which contained two columns. There were benches in each niche of the tripartite sanctuary. There were traces of wall decoration that survived on the northern wall of the sanctuary.
The chapel was transformed into a Christian church at a later date.
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Photography © Lenka Peacock 2007
Sources:
1. Bomann, Ann H.: The private chapel in ancient Egypt : a study of the chapels in the workmen's village at el Amarna with special reference to Deir el-Medina and other sites.
London : Kegan Paul International, 1991.

 
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