DAMAGE BLOCKS GRANITE OF PHILIP ARRHIDAEUS COMPARTMENT AND ITS SOURCE AND TREATMENT, KARNAK, EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Conservation dept., Faculty of Archaeology, South Valley Univ., Qena, Egypt.

2 Geology dept., Faculty of Sciences, Sohag Univ., Sohag, Egypt.

Abstract

The compartment of Philip Arrhidaeus is one of the most significant Roman landmarks in
Karnak Temple. It is exposed to various damage factors. For example, ground water is rising
in the study area, causing serious damage to granite used in the compartment Granite was
variously used in Ancient Egypt, both in statues and obelisks. Samples were collected to
study their mineral and chemical composition using polarized microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Xray
fluorescence, and scanning electron microscope. Finally, results showed the source of
granite, mechanical damage, and the proposed treatment.

Keywords