Wf1/4625(27)

Inscription: Signed 'Frith' in the negative.

Genre: Archaeological Photography

View looking southwards across the newly-excavated hypostyle hall of the Temple of Rameses III at Medinet Habu, with the temple pylons in the background. Frith's text notes the changes that had taken place since his earlier visit, when the site was largely covered in debris: ' On my late visit, I found that such efforts had been rewarded to the extent that I have now the pleasure to represent. The whole of this fine court, or hall of columns, with a number of lateral ante-chambers, had been excavated by order of the Pasha, whose object in these works was twofold; first, to stock a fine museum which he has lately erected at Cairo ... and secondly, to earn the commendations of travellers and of the civilised world. In the first of these objects he has had tolerable success, although, it is to be feared, that a great proportion of the portable valuables discovered find their way into other collections than that at Cairo. I take considerable exception also to the manner in which his works have been executed. In some instances, noble masses of picturesque ruin have been blown to pieces, and removed without any idea of uncovering objects of interest, but simply to clear the space ... Referring to the photograph, the first newly excavated hall which one enters from the doorway in the centre of the picture, contains the bases of 24 noble columns, the centre ones being five or six feet in diameter. The interior walls are covered with finely executed sculptures, chiefly representing the king's offerings to various deities, with the customary interchange of compliments. To this hall succeeds a smaller one, with half the number of columns; and this area is further narrowed in the third court by the width of a chamber on each side. It appears to have only two rows of columns, and no doubt led into the Adytum, which was not yet uncovered at the time of my visit. On the right hand corner of the picture, in the distance, are seen masses of the crude-brick modern ruins, in which the temple has been literally buried. In the centre are two of the great propyla - the upper portions of which have been thrown down - and beneath them is a fine example of a roof of long flat stones. This covers the colonnade of one side of the great court which was represented in a previous picture ...'