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The hypostyle hall and pronaos
The lateral chapel in Shenhur used to be free-standing from the Augustan temple, but was
connected to it probably during the reign of Nero (54 – 69 AD). A hall with four columns was built
to connect the two structures. It was interpreted as a hypostyle hall by de Meyer and Minas-
Nerpel (de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel 2012, 3).
A traditional hypostyle hall was positioned directly beyond the open court. It was usually broader
than it was deep. It was filled with columns, but a path was left in the middle, which was used
during religious processions. The constructions of ancient Egyptian temples were never great and
needed the large number of columns to support the structure. The columns also represented the
marshland, described in previous chapters, that sprung up around the primeval mound, which was
symbolised by the inner shrine. The columns and capitals represented water plants. The walls
usually show one main theme in this room: the bringing of offerings and performing of sacred
rituals of the king to the gods. The architraves and ceiling usually represented the sky. The pronaos
is usually located deeper into the temple, being preceded by the hypostyle hall if present
(Wilkinson 2007, 65-66; Málek and Baines 1981, 64).
During the reign of Trajan (98 – 117 AD) a wide room, defined by de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel as a
pronaos, was added of 13 by 29 meters. It was located in front of both the hypostyle hall and the
lateral chapel. The room had eighteen columns. Six of these are linked by intercolumnar screen
walls and form the facade of the building (de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel 2012, 3-4).
Although it is never mentioned in the article, it is possible de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel interpreted
this room as a pronaos because the former room had already been interpreted as a hypostyle hall.
It is possible though that this room took over the function of a hypostyle hall when it was built,
turning the room before it into a pronaos. This does make sense when taking into account the
usual design of a pronaos and hypostyle hall. It is possible the hall with four columns was
comparable to the hypostyle hall/pronaos of Dendur where the design and function of the two
rooms seem to have been combined in one room. (de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel 2012, 3-4;
Wilkinson 2007, 65).
It is also possible that the design of a wide hypostyle hall and pronaos with four columns
proceeding the Augustan temple had been the plan from the beginning, but took a long time to
finish. It is also possible that over time the temple became more important and was extended. The
purpose of the extension could also have been related to the ideal temple design, which in the