Soleb

Soleb in hieroglyphs
Mennu-chai-em-Maat Mnnw-ḫˁj-m-M3ˁt
Lion Amenophis III. from Soleb (British Museum)

Soleb is an ancient town in Nubia, today's Sudan. The place lies to the north of the third cataract of the Nile, on the Nile's western side.

It was discovered and described by Karl Richard Lepsius in 1844.

Necropolis

Soleb is also the location of a vast necropolis with small tomb chapels decorated with pyramids. The earliest tombs date to the 18th dynasty while some come from the Ramesside and Meroitic periods.

Amarna Period

During the Amarna Period (Mid 18th Dynasty), several pharaohs paid attention to Soleb starting with Amenhotep III, continuing with Akhenaten, Tutankhamen and Ay.

Amenhotep III

A large temple made of sandstone was founded here by Amenhotep III. It is the southern-most temple currently known to have been built by this king. The temple was consecrated to the god Amun Re and to the king, himself (deified with ram-horns). The architect may have been Amenhotep, son of Hapu.

At Sedeinga, a companion temple was built by Amenhotep III to Queen Tiye as a manifestation of the Eye of Ra.

The so-called Prudhoe lions originally stood as guardian figures at this temple inscribed with the name of Amenhotep III.

Akhenaten

During the reign of Akhenaten, he initially is shown worshiping his father and Amen at the temple. But later, he re-dedicates the temple to Aten.

Tutankhamen

During the reign of Tutankhamen, he reversed the religious reforms of his father (Akhenaten) and re-dedicated the temple to Amen-Ra. He also inscribed his name on the Prudhoe Lions.^[1]

Ay

During the reign of Ay, he also inscribed his name on the Prudhoe Lions.

Gallery

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  Plan of the site by Lepsius

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  View of the temple's ruins in the 19th century

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  View of the temple's colonnades in the 19th century

Literature

• David O'Connor, Eric H. Cline (Editor): Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, University of Michigan Press, October 2001, Paperback. ISBN 978-0-472-08833-1
• Joann Fletcher: Chronicle of a Pharaoh: The Intimate Life of Amenhotep III, Oxford University Press, USA, November 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-521660-8
• The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Nubia by Peter Lacovara

Coordinates: 20°26′0″N 30°20′0″E / 20.43333°N 30.33333°E

References

1. H. W. Fairman, "Tutankhamun and the end of the 18th Dynasty" Antiquity 1972