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me to interpret the chamber myself.
Interpretation of the temple
Function + context
Based on the architectural features the temple looks like a traditional new kingdom temple. This
standard design includes an entrance pylon giving access to an open court, a columned hall and
the sanctuary itself. The only part of the temple that cannot be found in this standard design are
the offering hall and the two burial chambers. The offering hall might not have been part of the
standard design, but were often found in new kingdom temples as well (Wilkinson 2007, 24-69).
The only non-traditional rooms are the room directly behind the sanctuary and the room located
in the rocks behind the temple. In the new kingdom it was common to bury the deceased
individual outside of his temple. Mortuary temples were dedicated to the deceased individual and
offerings were made there, but the burial chamber was located elsewhere. A false door could
therefore be added to the sanctuary to enable the deceased to return to the temple and receive
his offerings.
It is possible that the bodies of the deceased brothers were hidden in these secret rooms close to
the temples. The reason the bodies were moved to the chamber directly behind the sanctuary
might be related to festivals organised by the temple. It was argued that the movable slab stone
covering the entrance of the burial chamber behind the sanctuary was not fixed in place to enable
the chamber to be opened so that the bodies of the brothers could be used in processions. It is
possible the reason the brothers were buried so close to the temple the first time was also related
to some kind of symbolism of the temple and the bodies had always had a religious significance.
It is not clear whether only Pedesi had been buried in the temple of Dendur, or if he was
accompanied by his brother Pihor as well. The reason why Aldred assumes Pedesi is the individual
buried in this temple is based on the decoration inside the temple. In these scenes in which Pihor
and Pedesi appear, Pedesi is always preceding his brother. This could be evidence that the body of
Pihor was never recovered and that only Pedesi was buried at Dendur. It could also mean that
Pedesi was the oldest brother and therefore heir to the office of his father, therefore being more
important than Pihor. What is clear from the decoration and inscriptions however is that both were