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The North Gateway |
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The huge grated windows on the clerestory were held in place by tall piers. The interior surfaces of these piers which faced the main east-west processional way through the nave were decorated with images of Seti I before Amen-Re or Mut. The space was too narrow for a conventional offering scene, so the king stands close to the god, who sometimes embraces him. Nobody had paid much attention to these scenes, which are 24 meters (80 ft) above the ground. They are not very interesting except for one fact. All of the images of Seti I on the northern piers stand fully upright, while all those on the south side are bowing. Ramesses II later placed his name in the cartouches and converted reliefs on the southern aisle into sunk relief. But he made no other changes to Seti I's original design. |
On the north side of
the clerestory, Seti I stands upright (left). Ramesses II has usurped the
cartouche. On the right, a scene on the south side of the clerestory shows
the king bowing.