Manual of Egyptian archæology and guide to the study of antiquities in EgyptFor the use of students and travellers . r-ra is covered with gold stars on ablue ground. It was known from the inscriptions that certainkings of the Memphite dynasties had erected specialtemples to the sun-god. The hieroglyph determina-tive that followed the name of these temples showedan obelisk on a high platform or base. At AbuGurab, near Abusir, the place of one of these sun-temples has* been recovered—namely, one built byKing Ne-user-ra of the Fifth Dynasty (fig. 79). Itconsists of two courts ; the principal one
Manual of Egyptian archæology and guide to the study of antiquities in EgyptFor the use of students and travellers . r-ra is covered with gold stars on ablue ground. It was known from the inscriptions that certainkings of the Memphite dynasties had erected specialtemples to the sun-god. The hieroglyph determina-tive that followed the name of these temples showedan obelisk on a high platform or base. At AbuGurab, near Abusir, the place of one of these sun-temples has* been recovered—namely, one built byKing Ne-user-ra of the Fifth Dynasty (fig. 79). Itconsists of two courts ; the principal one on thewestern side is a rectangular enclosure, held up by a * L. Borchardt, Grabdcukmal des Konigs Sahiire. TEMPLE OF THE SUN, 79 Strong retaining wall. Under the pavement traceshave been found of brick buildings, levelled in pre-paring the foundations. The temple axis runs fromeast to west, the entrance being in the middle of theeast wall. Covered passages and chambers sur-rounded the courts. A square mastaba-shapedstructure with sides sloping at an angle of 14 degrees -^j:,^ y^^. Fig. 79-—The temple of the Sun at Abu Guiab, reconstructed.—FromA Handbook of Egyptian Religion (A. Erman). By permission ofMessrs. Constable & Co. occupied the place of the sanctuary, towards thewestern end of the court. It was cased below withgranite, above with fine limestone, and on it un-doubtedly stood the obelisk, the symbol of the sun-god himself. Access to this was afforded by a stair-case inside the base. In the courtyard below, directlyopposite the entrance, but near the obelisk on its 80 RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE. truncated pyramid, stands a flat, rectangular altar,4 feet high, formed of five alabaster blocks. Themain walls are built of yellow limestone faced withslabs of white. In many parts the walls are finelysculptured with scenes in relief, some of them relatingto the overflowing fertility and fecundit} of fields andflocks due to the beneficent might
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