Ancient Egypt
Elements of its Cultural History

  by Sjef Willockx

 
 


Geometric types 2: octagonal and polygonal columns

Here you see some bits and pieces of octagonal columns at the site of the mortuary temple of Mentuhotep II (11th dynasty) at Deir el Bahri. (In the background on the left you see part of queen Hatshepsut's mortuary temple.) Wooden octagonal columns have been found in the Middle Kingdom town of Kahun. 

Below is a picture of the portico of the Anubis shrine of Hatshepsut's temple. These polygonal columns are often erroneously referred to as "proto Dorian". Dorian columns are fluted, not polygonal. But what's more important: the stages of their respective development are very different. (For more details, see the Article, the section called "Afterthoughts".)

 

The same type of columns is also used on the 3rd level of the temple, right behind the pillars with the Osirian statues (shown on the page Pillars, 2). On the right, you can see the back of the Osirian pillars.
 

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