Lot Essay
LITHOGRAPHED:
L. Haghe, for D. Roberts, Egypt and Nubia 1847-9, no. 90 (with minor differences)
The temple is in the village of Es-Sebua (known as 'Valley of the Lions' after the avenue of sphinxs) at Wadi el-Arab on the Upper Nile in Nubia, 99 miles up stream from Philae. It was built under Ramses II (1304-1237 B.C.) and dedicated to Amun and Re-Harakhte, Ramses himself was also worshipped there. Several colossi stood in front of the pylon that preceded the great court and inner chamber (carved into the rock). The colossi showed Ramses II holding a staff topped with the ram's head and sun disc of Amun-Re.
David Roberts was in Egypt from September 1838 until February 1839 before going on to Palestine and the Lebanon, returning home with sketches, a panorama of Cairo, and three full sketchbooks. He was at Philae on 30 October-1 November 1838, having passed Es-Sebua in both directions. Egypt and Nubia was published in 21 parts between 1847 and 1849 as the continuation of The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, 20 parts published 1842-5; there were 248 plates in all. Roberts did a new set of drawings for Louis Haghe to work from in 1846-7; this example is one of them.
L. Haghe, for D. Roberts, Egypt and Nubia 1847-9, no. 90 (with minor differences)
The temple is in the village of Es-Sebua (known as 'Valley of the Lions' after the avenue of sphinxs) at Wadi el-Arab on the Upper Nile in Nubia, 99 miles up stream from Philae. It was built under Ramses II (1304-1237 B.C.) and dedicated to Amun and Re-Harakhte, Ramses himself was also worshipped there. Several colossi stood in front of the pylon that preceded the great court and inner chamber (carved into the rock). The colossi showed Ramses II holding a staff topped with the ram's head and sun disc of Amun-Re.
David Roberts was in Egypt from September 1838 until February 1839 before going on to Palestine and the Lebanon, returning home with sketches, a panorama of Cairo, and three full sketchbooks. He was at Philae on 30 October-1 November 1838, having passed Es-Sebua in both directions. Egypt and Nubia was published in 21 parts between 1847 and 1849 as the continuation of The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, 20 parts published 1842-5; there were 248 plates in all. Roberts did a new set of drawings for Louis Haghe to work from in 1846-7; this example is one of them.