News Letter No. 14
May 2012
Dear Member,
The recent lecture concerning the temple at Dendera by Frances Williams brings to mind a
study being carried out to assess damage caused to its reliefs by salt weathering. The
general rise in the water table in the Nile Valley, which is bringing salts up into the lower
masonry layers of the monuments, is causing flaking of surfaces and serious damage to
ancient reliefs throughout Upper Egypt. One of the prime culprits is the High Dam at Aswan,
and the vast lake behind it, as the accumulated body of water in Lake Nasser is percolating
through the horizontal rock strata over large areas of North Africa and causing a general rise
in the water table. The Aswan Dam was needed for its turbines to produce the electricity
needed for industrialisation and it was, naturally, inconvenient to have much of Egypt’s
agricultural land flooded for three months each year. Many think, however, that the long
term effects could be environmentally disastrous for the country, due to the continuing and
uncontrollable build-up of sediment behind the dam and in Lake Nasser.
The annual summer inundation once flooded the land with silt-laden water, and any
accumulated salts were flushed back into the river channel when the water eventually
subsided. Before the mid 1960s silt brought down by the river was deposited on the
agricultural land every year, acting as a natural fertiliser and raising the soil level by up to
four inches per century. Now most of these sediments, which travel down the Blue Nile from
Ethiopia, are trapped behind the Aswan Dam, and accumulate at a rate of some 125 million
tons per annum. As there is no longer an annual inundation, it has become necessary to use
artificial irrigation and chemical fertilisers for farming purposes. Furthermore, the constant
supply of water throughout the year allows farmers to grow two or three crops annually,
causing over-irrigation of the fields and further rises in the water table. Importantly, as there
is no seasonable flooding, salts are not drained back into the river channel, but sink into the
subsoil and are deposited on the land, significantly reducing crop yields and causing salt
damage to the precious monuments.
The effects of salt hydration and crystallisation at Luxor and Karnak have been so severe
over recent years that a “Dewatering Project” was initiated in 2007, largely funded by
SWETO of Sweden. This involved digging deep trenches round the perimeters of the Karnak
and Luxor temples, into which perforated pipes were laid. Pumps now remove any excess
water being collected, and return it to the river channel, thus lowering the water table in the
area by some three metres and reduced the concentration of salt-laden water in the lower
courses of temple masonry. The East Bank temples are now reasonably secure, and a similar
project was initiated in 2008 to protect the West Bank monuments. This involves digging
some 3 kms of drains and the construction of a pumping station near the Ramesseum. The
intention is to lower the water table by about three metres and reduce salt damage to the
mortuary temples, from Medinet Habu in the south to the Temple of Seti I in the north.
Ultimately, agricultural reform is one long-term but partial solution to the problems facing
the monuments of western Thebes. The replacement of the recently over-expanded
sugarcane fields with lucrative crops that require far less irrigation—such as fruits, flowers,
and vegetables—would assist in lowering the groundwater level and thus slow the damage.
These changes take time, but the relevant authorities are now aware of the problems, and
some action is being taken.
One positive result of the de-watering project has been that a number of significant
archaeological finds have been made as a result of excavating the trenches, including the
location of the eastern limits of the temple of Aten at Karnak, the colonnade of an unknown
25th Dynasty temple, the outer enclosure wall of the Roman camp at Luxor, and many other
smaller but no less significant finds.
Salt damage at Karnak
Recent Diary Events
29th February 2012: Lecture by Frances Williams. “Dendera – Beautiful Temple of
Hathor”.
Frances delivered an interesting and informative talk on the temple of Hathor, which
is situated on the West Bank of the Nile, south of Abydos.
She began by describing the goddess, who was depicted with a human face, wig,
delicate cow’s ears, a headdress consisting of cow’s horns, a solar disk, and the naos
of a temple. Hathor was also represented anthropomorphically in the form of a cow,
sometimes nursing her child Ihy. We learned that Hathor was associated with love,
fertility, sexuality, music, dance and alcohol.
The second part of the talk found us taking a Nile cruise towards the temple of
Hathor, which was built in the Graeco-Roman period. The entrance is graced with an
ornamental portal which leads into a hypostyle hall, with columns decorated with
Hathor heads. We were then led up a staircase to the roof, observing the figures
sculpted onto the walls of the stairs.
Frances’ slides showed us clear views over the temple complex and surrounding area,
covering the sacred lake complete with palm trees, two mammisi, and a Coptic
Church, all lying parallel to each other. The first mammisi, closest to the temple, is of
the Roman period, the second being earlier was built in the 30th Dynasty.
On leaving the temple we were introduced to a fine statue of Bes, the dwarflike god
who looked after women during pregnancy and childbirth.
Frances also told of a small roof shrine, which has a copy of a carved zodiac in its
ceiling, the original having been taken to the Louvre.
The lecture concluded with a return cruise to Luxor, culminating in a glorious
Egyptian sunset.
Frances’ lecture gave those who have visited an urge to return, and greatly
encouraged others to make a first visit to the beautiful, rurally situated temple of
Hathor at Dendera.
Our thanks to Frances for her enlightening talk.
Contributed by Dianne Long.
Wednesday 11th April 2012: Lecture by Roger Sharp. “Egyptian Art and
Sculpture”. A report on this talk will be included in the next newsletter.
Wednesday 25th April 2012: AGM. Despite the variable weather on the day there
were fourteen at the meeting. The committee was voted in for another year, en bloc,
but we are still in need of a new Minutes Secretary. The question of visits was
explored, and the difficulties in arranging these on a financially viable basis due to the
current level of our membership, was discussed. We are growing, and now have fifty
members, which is promising. A question was raised concerning the possibility of
arranging a course in hieroglyphics, and this will be looked into. The financial
accounts for the 2011 to 2012 year have now been signed off, and we currently have
approximately £900 on account in our bank. Dianne Long thanked the committee for
its hard work, and the meeting concluded with chatter, refreshments, and Pat’s “bread
pudding”.
Events For Your Diary
Meetings, unless advised otherwise, will be held at one of the following locations:
North Room, Christ Church, William Street, Herne Bay.
Red Cross Hall, East Street, Herne Bay.
United Reform Church Hall, High Street, CT6 5NG. Herne Bay. The entrance is to the
right of the Fire Station. A notice will be attached to the door.
Wednesday 27th June 2012: Lecture by Martin Crowther. Martin’s talk will cover the
conservation and transformation of the Beaney Institute building, its archaeological finds,
and the new display of Egyptian Antiquities. North Room, 7 to 9 pm. Members £3.50,
non-members £5.00. Note: The talk is to be followed by a guided tour of the complex,
details and date to be advised.
Sunday 22nd July 2012: BBQ. To be confirmed. Details to be circulated when available.
Wednesday 17th October 2012: Lecture by Victor Blunden. “The reign of Ramesses
II”. North Room, 2 to 4 pm. Members £4.00, non-members £6.00.
Wednesday 19th December 2012: Lecture by Charlotte Booth. “The Myth of
Cleopatra”. United Reform Church Hall, High Street, Herne Bay. 2 to 4 pm. Members
£5.00, non-members £7.50.
Wednesday 27th February 2013: Lecture by Dr Csaba La’da. Subject to be advised.
North Room, 7 to 9 pm. Members £4.00, non-members £6.00.
Wednesday 24th April 2013: Lecture by Andrew Fulton. Details to be advised.
Wednesday 19th June 2013: Lecture by Ian Shaw. “The Gurob Harim Palace Project”.
Further details to be advised.
Our Lecturers
Martin Crowther: Martin is Learning and Engagement Manager of the Canterbury
Museum and Galleries Service.
Victor Blunden: Victor studied at Manchester and Liverpool Universities, is a freelance
Egyptologist, and writes for Ancient Egypt Magazine.
Charlotte Booth: Charlotte has a BA and MA in Egyptian archaeology from UCL, and
currently lectures at Birkbeck University. She has published widely.
Dr Csaba La’da. Dr La’da has a special interest in Hellenistic and Roman Egypt, and
lectures at Kent University.
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Additional courses and lectures available in the area include:
Mummy Mania, by Chris Humber:
Wednesdays 9th May to 27th June 2012: “Ancient Egypt and other Regional Cultures –
their relationships and influences”. Red Cross Hall, 2 to 4 pm; cost £7.50 per session
[payable on the day].
WEA Day School: Chris Humber will run a Day School on Saturday 19th May 2012,
titled “River of the Gods – The Ancient Nile”. St. Andrew’s Church Hall, Hampton Pier
Avenue, Herne Bay, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm. Fee £18.00, including morning coffee, lunch
and afternoon tea.
Booking and payment in advance to Jenny Bennett, Tel: 01227 372281, Email:
jenny_bennett@tiscali.co.uk. Or contact Chris Tel: 01227 365840, Email
hauhet.60@googlemail.com.
U3A Canterbury: Chris is offering a “taster” lecture titled “Ancient Egypt – An
Overview”. This will be an introduction to a full U3A course which is to be offered from
this autumn. Alan Ritchie Hall, Baptist Church, St. George’s Place, Canterbury, CT1
1UT. 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Fee £2.00. Contact Chris for details.
Ramases [North Kent Egyptology Society]:
Ramases, the other Egyptological Society in North Kent, has a series of meetings that
may be of interest. Functions are normally held in the Newington Village Hall, to the
west of Sittingbourne, and include:
12th May 2012: “Ancient Egyptian Tomb Models of Daily Life”, by Martin Davies.
23rd June 2012: “Creation Mythology of Ancient Egypt”, lecture by Lucia Gahlin.
21st July 2012: “Knowing your left from your right: Ancient Egyptian painting and
relief”, lecture by Lorna Oakes.
7th September 2012: AGM and lecture [subject to be confirmed].
6th October 2012: Study Day with the EES. “Environmental changes in Egypt, ancient
and modern”.
24th November 2012: Wine and Wisdom Evening, Newington Village Hall.
For details contact Ramases on Tel: 01795 663475, Email: ramasesnk@hotmail.com.
Egyptology, with Frances Williams:
8th May 2012: Ramesses II. A six week course covering his reign, monuments, and
foreign relations with the Hittites and Nubians. The course will also discuss his tomb and
that of his wife Nefertari. Falstaff Hotel, Canterbury, 2 to 4 pm. Fee £57.00.
10th May 2012: Ramesses II. As above but at the Langley Hotel in Tonbridge, 11 am to
1 pm. Fee £57.00
8th May 2012: Hieroglyph Workshop, texts from the reign of Ramesses II. A six
week course at the Falstaff Hotel, Canterbury, 7 to 9 pm. £57.00.
10th May 2012: Hieroglyph Workshop. As above but at the Langley Hotel in
Tonbridge, 2 to 4 pm. Fee £57.00
Note: No classes on the 5th June Bank Holiday.
For details contact Frances on Tel: 07789 661616, or Email: fwipetiset@hotmail.com.
ANKH Website:
This is in the final stages of preparation, and you will be informed how to access it when
it is launched, possibly within the next two weeks.
ANKH Email Address:
You can now contact your committee [Chris Humber] by email at ankh.kent@gmail.com.
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“ANCIENT EGYPT” MAGAZINE
For articles on the latest research and current news from Egypt, written by experts for enthusiasts,
students and everyone interested in ancient Egypt. W.H. Smith in Canterbury stocks a few copies.
To order: www.ancientegyptmagazine.com, or Tel: 01565 633 106
Chair: Chris Humber 01227 365 840
Treasurer: Brian Herron 01795 473 777
Box Office: Carol Porter 01227 363 424
Newsletter: Roger Sharp 01227 479 938
Secretary: Joan Kaye 01227 367 203
Catering: Pat Holiday 01227 741 793
Publicity: Clive Butler 01843 842 966
Newsletter Production: Roger Sharp, 1st May 2012.