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Pictorial representations at Gebel el Silsila : A 10 000 year long repertoire

Nilsson, Maria LU orcid and Ward, John LU (2016) In Archaeological Heritage & Multidisciplinary Egyptological Studies (AHMES) 3. p.167-183
Abstract
Gebel el Silsila (Mountain of Chain) is located between Kom Ombo and Edfu on both banks of the Nile where it reaches its narrowest point. The site is generally known for its many Pharaonic cenotaphs, stelai and the speos of Horemheb, but it was once also the world’s largest quarry. As such it was renowned for its high quality sandstone, and the stone was extracted and transported to all over Upper Egypt, used for the construction of some of Egypt’s greatest temples such as Karnak, Luxor, Ramesseum, Edfu, Dendera, etc. However, in addition to its monumental grandeur what makes Gebel el Silsila unique is its extensive pictorial repertoire that ranges from Epipalaeolithic rock drawings to one of the world’s more complex quarry marking... (More)
Gebel el Silsila (Mountain of Chain) is located between Kom Ombo and Edfu on both banks of the Nile where it reaches its narrowest point. The site is generally known for its many Pharaonic cenotaphs, stelai and the speos of Horemheb, but it was once also the world’s largest quarry. As such it was renowned for its high quality sandstone, and the stone was extracted and transported to all over Upper Egypt, used for the construction of some of Egypt’s greatest temples such as Karnak, Luxor, Ramesseum, Edfu, Dendera, etc. However, in addition to its monumental grandeur what makes Gebel el Silsila unique is its extensive pictorial repertoire that ranges from Epipalaeolithic rock drawings to one of the world’s more complex quarry marking systems. This paper aims to present a brief overview of the site itself, the aims of the ongoing survey project, and with a strong focus on the pictorial graffiti (illustrations) from Epipalaeolithic rock drawings dated to approximately 10 000 B.P. to the highly symbolic Graeco-Roman quarry marks with some 5000 examples. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Gebel el-Silsila (Mountain of Chain) is located between Kom Ombo and Edfu on both banks of the Nile where it reaches its narrowest point. The site is generally known for its many Pharaonic cenotaphs, stelae and the speos of Horemheb, but it was once also the world’s largest quarry. As such it was renowned for its high quality sandstone, and the stone was extracted and transported to all over
Upper Egypt, used for the construction of some of Egypt’s greatest temples such as Karnak, Luxor, Ramesseum, Edfu, Dendera, etc. However, in addition to its monumental grandeur what makes Gebel el-Silsila unique is its extensive pictorial repertoire that ranges from Epipaleolithic rock drawings to one of the world’s more complex quarry marking... (More)
Gebel el-Silsila (Mountain of Chain) is located between Kom Ombo and Edfu on both banks of the Nile where it reaches its narrowest point. The site is generally known for its many Pharaonic cenotaphs, stelae and the speos of Horemheb, but it was once also the world’s largest quarry. As such it was renowned for its high quality sandstone, and the stone was extracted and transported to all over
Upper Egypt, used for the construction of some of Egypt’s greatest temples such as Karnak, Luxor, Ramesseum, Edfu, Dendera, etc. However, in addition to its monumental grandeur what makes Gebel el-Silsila unique is its extensive pictorial repertoire that ranges from Epipaleolithic rock drawings to one of the world’s more complex quarry marking systems. This paper aims to present a brief overview of the site itself, the aims of the ongoing survey project, with a strong focus on the pictorial graffiti (illustrations) from Epipaleolithic rock drawings dated to approximately 10 000 B.P. to the highly symbolic Graeco-Roman quarry marks with some 5000 examples. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Gebel el Silsila, Rock Art, Ancient Graffiti, Fieldwork, Archaeology
host publication
Archaeology and Environment : Understanding the Past to Design the Future: a Multidisciplinary Approach: Proceedings of the International Workshop "Italian Days in Aswan" 15th-18th November 2013 - Understanding the Past to Design the Future: a Multidisciplinary Approach: Proceedings of the International Workshop "Italian Days in Aswan" 15th-18th November 2013
series title
Archaeological Heritage & Multidisciplinary Egyptological Studies (AHMES)
editor
Capriotti Vittozzi, Giuseppina and Porcelli, Fransesco
volume
3
pages
167 - 183
publisher
Istituto di Studi sul Mediterraneo Antico (ISMA)
ISSN
2384-8154
ISBN
9788880801849
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
19df258e-f980-442f-96cf-825c9c74b7bd
date added to LUP
2018-01-18 09:46:43
date last changed
2024-02-23 02:29:56
@inbook{19df258e-f980-442f-96cf-825c9c74b7bd,
  abstract     = {{Gebel el Silsila (Mountain of Chain) is located between Kom Ombo and Edfu on both banks of the Nile where it reaches its narrowest point. The site is generally known for its many Pharaonic cenotaphs, stelai and the speos of Horemheb, but it was once also the world’s largest quarry. As such it was renowned for its high quality sandstone, and the stone was extracted and transported to all over Upper Egypt, used for the construction of some of Egypt’s greatest temples such as Karnak, Luxor, Ramesseum, Edfu, Dendera, etc. However, in addition to its monumental grandeur what makes Gebel el Silsila unique is its extensive pictorial repertoire that ranges from Epipalaeolithic rock drawings to one of the world’s more complex quarry marking systems. This paper aims to present a brief overview of the site itself, the aims of the ongoing survey project, and with a strong focus on the pictorial graffiti (illustrations) from Epipalaeolithic rock drawings dated to approximately 10 000 B.P. to the highly symbolic Graeco-Roman quarry marks with some 5000 examples.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Maria and Ward, John}},
  booktitle    = {{Archaeology and Environment : Understanding the Past to Design the Future: a Multidisciplinary Approach: Proceedings of the International Workshop "Italian Days in Aswan" 15th-18th November 2013}},
  editor       = {{Capriotti Vittozzi, Giuseppina and Porcelli, Fransesco}},
  isbn         = {{9788880801849}},
  issn         = {{2384-8154}},
  keywords     = {{Gebel el Silsila; Rock Art; Ancient Graffiti; Fieldwork; Archaeology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{167--183}},
  publisher    = {{Istituto di Studi sul Mediterraneo Antico (ISMA)}},
  series       = {{Archaeological Heritage & Multidisciplinary Egyptological Studies (AHMES)}},
  title        = {{Pictorial representations at Gebel el Silsila : A 10 000 year long repertoire}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}