#   The Chapels and Niches for the Cult of Amenhotep I at Karnak 

 



The temple of Amun-Ra at Karnak (Luxor, Egypt) preserves exceptional traces of the royal cult established by Amenhotep I (c. 1525–1504 BC), second pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. Among the earliest New Kingdom monuments at Karnak, a series of chapels and niches dedicated to the king's cult were originally located in a courtyard situated directly in front of the Middle Kingdom temple later corresponding to the courtyard of the Sixth Pylon. This space, conceived as a privileged area of royal worship at the beginning of the Eighteenth Dynasty, was later dismantled under Hatshepsut and subsequently rebuilt in sandstone by Thutmose III.

More than 1500 limestone blocks and fragments from these structures were recovered during excavations in the early twentieth century and are now preserved in the Open-Air Museum, on the mastabas north of the Temple of Khonsu, and in the Cheikh Labib storehouse at Karnak. Carved in fine local limestone with remarkably refined raised reliefs and substantial traces of polychromy, these monuments display a unique iconographic program depicting an offering ritual to the king's statue alongside episodes of the daily ritual of Amun-Ra.

Although the monuments of Amenhotep I at Karnak have been the subject of ongoing study and publication within the CFEETK since the late 1980s, the chapels and niches dedicated to his royal cult have never been published as a coherent and exhaustive corpus. This project, conducted in collaboration with the CFEETK (CNRS UAR 3172), aims to produce this first complete publication. It will result in a comprehensive monograph including architectural analysis, epigraphy, iconography, facsimiles, and photographic documentation. Beyond its fundamental contribution to our understanding of royal cult practices in Thebes, the publication will also examine the ideological construction of kingship and the evolution of Karnak temple.

The publication project is directed by [**Dr. Louisa Ben Hamida**](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/people/louisa-ben-hamida)**.**



 

 [   ![Plan of Amenhotep I’s courtyard at Karnak](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/Fig.%201.%20Plan%20of%20Amenhotep%20I%E2%80%99s%20courtyard%20at%20Karnak.jpg?itok=ifX3N4N4) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Plan of Amenhotep I’s courtyard at Karnak</p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><em>© CNRS-CFEETK (J.-F. Carlotti). </em><br><em>The courtyard (ca. 30 Å~ 50 m) was in front of the Middle Kingdom temple and later dismantled by Hatshepsut.</em></p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-05/Fig.%201.%20Plan%20of%20Amenhotep%20I%E2%80%99s%20courtyard%20at%20Karnak.jpg) Plan of Amenhotep I’s courtyard at Karnak

 



 [   ![Provisional proposed assemblage of north niche 4](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/Fig.%202.%20Provisional%20proposed%20assemblage%20of%20north%20niche%204.jpg?itok=wN46IEOT) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Provisional proposed assemblage of north niche 4</p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><em>© CNRS-CFEETK (F. Pirou).</em><br><em>A proposed assemblage of one of the north niches showing the decorative program of these structures.</em></p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-05/Fig.%202.%20Provisional%20proposed%20assemblage%20of%20north%20niche%204.jpg) Provisional proposed assemblage of north niche 4

 



 [   ![Offerings list to Amenhotep I](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/Fig.%203.%20Offerings%20list%20to%20Amenhotep%20I.jpg?itok=gTfJtf0H) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Offerings list to Amenhotep I</p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><em>© CNRS-CFEETK (T. Sassolas-Serrayet).</em><br><em>An offering list and the carving quality of these reliefs on one the blocks belonging to a niche.</em></p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-05/Fig.%203.%20Offerings%20list%20to%20Amenhotep%20I.jpg) Offerings list to Amenhotep I

 



 [   ![Preserved polychromy on a block showing a libating priest](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/Fig.%205.%20Preserved%20polychromy%20on%20a%20block%20showing%20a%20libating%20priest.jpg?itok=qP1bZvxa) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Preserved polychromy on a block showing a libating priest</p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><em>© L. Ben Hamida.</em><br><em>An exceptional testimony to early 18<span>th </span>Dynasty pigment palette and carving techniques.</em></p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-05/Fig.%205.%20Preserved%20polychromy%20on%20a%20block%20showing%20a%20libating%20priest.jpg) Preserved polychromy on a block showing a libating priest

 



 [   ![Photograph of lintel of chapel G5 4](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/Fig.%204a.%20Photograph%20of%20lintel%20of%20chapel%20G5%204.jpg?itok=1GH6XPJR) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Photograph of lintel of chapel G5 4</p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><em>© CNRS-CFEETK (F. Pirou, T. Sassolas-Serrayet).</em></p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-05/Fig.%204a.%20Photograph%20of%20lintel%20of%20chapel%20G5%204.jpg) Photograph of lintel of chapel G5 4

 



 [   ![Facsimile of lintel of chapel G5 4](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/Fig.%204b.%20Facsimile%20of%20lintel%20of%20chapel%20G5%204.jpg?itok=50lNEQl-) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Facsimile of lintel of chapel G5 4</p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>© CNRS-CFEETK (F. Pirou, T. Sassolas-Serrayet). <br>Epigraphic details and artistic style of the lintel of chapel G5, illustrating the documentation produced in collaboration with CFEETK. 13</p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-05/Fig.%204b.%20Facsimile%20of%20lintel%20of%20chapel%20G5%204.jpg) Facsimile of lintel of chapel G5 4

 



 [   ![Amenhotep I presenting a nesmet vase to Amun-Ra](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/Fig.%206.%20Amenhotep%20I%20presenting%20a%20nesmet%20vase%20to%20Amun-Ra.jpg?itok=ZX_bmQrr) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Amenhotep I presenting a nesmet vase to Amun-Ra</p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>© L. Ben Hamida. <br>Relief belonging to a rear wall of one of the niches showing the king offering a nemset vase to Amun-Ra as part of an episode of the daily ritual. The block shows the artistic quality of the relief and preserves polychromy. </p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-05/Fig.%206.%20Amenhotep%20I%20presenting%20a%20nesmet%20vase%20to%20Amun-Ra.jpg) Amenhotep I presenting a nesmet vase to Amun-Ra

 



 

 



 



 

 See also:- [ 2026 Sponsored Projects ](/sponsored-projects-year/2026-sponsored-projects)
- [ Egypt & Sudan ](/sponsored-projects-area/egypt-sudan)