Workshop for the Egyptian Court.
Workshop for the Egyptian Court.
The potent columns of the Egyptian Court during construction. Different types of Egyptian columns were showcased in different parts of the court--sometimes with papyrus leaves at the top or even lotus themed.
My own route for showcasing the Egyptian Court based on the available pictures.
Looking from the Renaissance Court, across the Nave, towards the Egyptian Court entrance.
The entrance to the Egyptian Court is masked behind the plants and sculpture in the Nave.
The entrance to the Egyptian Court seen during construction at an angle from the Nave, before any Lions (or Kubs as I call em') have been placed on guard.
Similar view to previous one, but as a coloured lithograph--this time complete with the avenue of 8 lions (or Kubs!). This is as far to the left as we can see from the main entrance, showing one end of the Court of Amenophis III. Note: here is just one of a number of different entrances enabling access to the Egyptian Court.
The opposite end of the Egyptian Court entrance at a much sharper angle, showing the cross-bracing that helped support the structure, which was covered in Ivy so that people didn't bump into it.
Main entrance from a construction photo; no plants are in the scene yet.
Now you can see the plants.
Another view of the main entrance. In the distance can be seen some miniature figures in the Tomb of Aboo Simbel. The Aboo Simbel figures in the North Transept were much closer to life-size than these little things, which can be seen up-close in a coloured photo near the end of this "virtual tour".
Still standing at the entrance, this engraving shows another Kub perpendicular to the rest. This is as far to the right of the entrance as can be seen in any view, with part of the adjoining Greek Court also shown.
Another lithograph of the main entrance with people present.
Similar to the last view.
A view of the entrance taken much later.
Yet another view of the entrance--this time taken in 1892--still nothing has changed.
The Outer Court looking in the direction of the Greek Court (contained different style columns to the present court) and through to the Roman Court (arches were prevalent here). On the left is the statues of Rameses The Great.
A direct view of the statues.
Construction of the Rameses The Great figures.
Painting of the figures.
How accurate these colours are in this painting is anyone's guess.
Rotating slightly to the north, the chariot painting (actually a battle scene) can be seen in more detail. Note this in your mind as a reference point for the last set of Outer Court photos coming up.
Similar to the previous view, albeit more detailed.
Looking back in the direction of the Egyptian Court entrance with only 2 kubs guarding this side; keep this tame pair in mind for later! The other entrance to the Greek Court through the Greek Vestibule is also shown.
Turning 180 degrees, this view shows the other end of the Outer Court with people present. Like the opposite end there are 2 doorways; this time towards the Court of Amenophis III. There is another painting on the wall.
The entrance to the Court of Amenophis III from the Greek And Roman Sculpture Court, leading to the Outer Court.
The entrance to the Court of Amenophis III from the Nave. Our line of sight also passes through the dark, unseen, Rock Tomb Of Beni Hassan. At the very end can be glimped a statue of the Egyptian Museum, but one which we can fortunately examine in the penultimate photo of this series.
Similar to the previous view, taken at the time of construction in 1853-1854.
A nice angled view looking from the Court of Amenophis III into the Outer Court.
Back inside the Outer Court with the statues of Rameses The Great.
A wide view of The Outer Court taken at a later date, showing both exits to the Greek Vestibule. Note the lights hanging from the ceiling.
The space in the Outer Court was evidently used for temporary exhibitions of the same theme. Here, apparently, were real mummies placed in the court!
Royal navy officers playing Chess inside the Outer Court of the Egyptian Court.
Looking back at the entrance towards the nave--this time the pair of lions are gone.
Do you recognise the chariot painting on the wall? It seems the Outer Court was used for exhibiting Sphinxes of a similar wilder kind that survive today along the upper terraces outside. But where did they get these indoor ones from?
Same as the previous photo, abeit in more detail.
I wonder if these Outer Court sphinxes, which are not seen in earlier views, originated from the North Transept as avenue survivors of the 1866 fire.
Looking back into the Outer Court through the lower, eastern most, doorway, from the Greek Vestibule. Two figures guard the way.
In this view, the photographer has taken a step back from the previous view, to reveal a third figure along the Egyptian side of the Greek Vestibule.
One of the seated figures being decorated during the construction period of the palace.
The Greek Vestibule from the Nave looking towards the Gallery of Greek sculpture.
Same as the previous view. Egypt is on the left; Greece on the right.
From the Greek Court, looking across the Greek Vestibule and into the Outer Court with the statues of Rameses The Great.
Same viewpoint as the previous shot, albeit closer.
Same photo, this time in more detail.
Looking from the top, western-most, end of the Greek Vestibule across the Nave and perhaps as far as the Elizabethan Court on the other side.
The photographer has turned away from the Nave, now with the Gallery on his right, looking into the Hall Of Karnac Columns from the Atrium. At the end of the columns can be seen the Court of Greek and Roman Sculpture through another one of the Egyptian Court access points.
Looking from the Greek and Roman Sculpture Court into the Egyptian Court
Same as the previous view, but this time there are English busts being exhibited as opposed to Greek and Roman Sculpture for some reason.
A seldom seen entrance into the Egyptian Court from the Greek And Roman Sculpture Court via. the Rock Tomb Of Beni Hassan, guarded by sphinxes set in identical formation to those of the South Transept and North Transept entrances from the palace Garden Front (The wider and more grander Central Transept had double sphinxes each side!)
The Hall Of Karnac Columns seen from the Rock Tomb Of Beni Hassan towards the Atrium of The Greek Court.
The Inner Court looking towards the doorway into the Gallery of Greek Sculpture. Through to the right is the Hall Of Karnac Columns. Through the columns on the left is the seldom seen Egyptian Museum.
The same doorway referred to in the previous caption, showing it's construction before the low wall had been fitted.
A more detailed view of the one before last.
A window into the Karnac columns of the previous view, before the time of lighting.
Looking from the Gallery of Greek and Roman Sculpture above the main courts, back into the Inner Court of the Egyptian Court. Note the figure beside the farthest doorway.
Same as the previous view, but the photographer is standing a little closer. Note that the farthest doorway actually has 2 figures in the expected array.
The Tomb Of Aboo Simbel in colour--one of only 6 colour photos ever taken inside or outside the Crystal Palace--showing the recess containing the small Aboo Simbel figures.
Looking back along the Karnac Columns of the Inner Court. At the very end can be glimpsed a doorway leading into the Rock Tomb Of Beni Hassan.
The Egyptian Museum looking through the columns into the Inner Court with the Hall Of Karnack Columns beyond. Inside the museum, one of it's statues can be seen in the wrong place; this photo was taken at the time of construction.
The second of only six 1936 colour photos taken inside the Crystal Palace, this one taken from a similar viewpoint to the previous B&W photo, but with a statue residing in the void of the Inner Court.
Anymore pics of the Egyptian Court out there???
Anyway, here's the coverage of the Egyptian Court, based on the series of 60 photos above and final analysis, highlighted in red:
The sides in blue are not shown in any views above. However, no doubt we'll come across more photos in the future, which atleast show more of the museum.
Egyptian Court: Top 10 Most Wanted Pics
1) The Egyptian Museum--apparently contained many statues and copy of the rosetta stone.
2) The Rock Tomb Of Beni Hassan--possibly too dark to be photographed.
3) The 2 entrances in the southwest, nearest to the main entrance in the Central Transept.
4) The Tomb Of Aboo Simbel from alternative angles.
5) Full view of the southern end of the Inner Court
6) The perimeter walls of the Hall Of Karnac Columns.
7) More coverage of the Court of Amenophis III.
8 ) Southeastern corner of the Egyptian Court.
9) Better quality photos of the southern facade from the Greek And Roman Sculpture Court
10) Upgrades to existing photos.
