The Second Pylon

Horemheb offering a tray of food to Amen from the Second Pylon. The cartouches were usurped twice, by Ramesses I and Ramesses II

The Second Pylon was constructed but only partly inscribed when Horemheb died, (ca. 1304 BCE).  His successor Ramesses I-- founder of the 19th Dynasty-- completed the decoration of the Pylon during his brief reign of less than two years. All of this was done only a few years before the Great Hypostyle Hall itself was built by Seti I. Behind the pylon was a large open courtyard that later became the Hypostyle Hall itself.

Ramesses I also took credit for Horemheb's work by placing his own name in Horemheb's cartouches. Usurping the names of earlier kings on their monuments became a Ramesside tradition most widely practiced by Ramesses I's grandson Ramesses II.

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