La Conception Du Décor D'Un Temple Au Début Du Règne De Ramsès Ii: Analyse Du Deuxième Registre De La Moitiè Sud Du Mur Ouest De La Grande Salle Hypostyle De Karnak *

Abstract

Before the second year of his reign, the imagemakers of Ramses II drew inspiration from those of Seti I, but from his second year onwards, they instigated a new conception of temple decoration. Were the two first years of Ramses II's reign simply a period of stagnation or rather, one of reflection, and of transition between two manners of conceiving the decoration of a temple? In an attempt to answer this question, the second register of the south half of the west wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak is analysed. These scenes were carved around year 2 of Ramses II's reign, and reveal that this period was one of significant innovations in the field of temple iconography.