Happy Birthday Hatshepsut Project

Two years old today. Thanks to all those who follow and read the posts. Whilst they have been quite infrequent in 2012- i have still been working on projects which can be pursued this year- and for the future.

With the Museum Database cancelled by me- i will go back to keeping this blog as the main article and post point, and Facebook for the more quickfire discussions and link/ photo posting.

On the subject of posting i am looking at interesting ways of sharing information on this blog. The post with Maria Isabel Pita was a breath of fresh air to me, the LEGO post was fun and different. 

Thank you to Rita Murray and Phil Stewart for your help on the Facebook arm of the Hatshepsut Project. I was never interested in Facebook until creating the Hatshepsut Project Group. Now i am on it more often than i would admit to. I need your help and you have both been assets to me.

Another thank- to those in the background who help, assist, correct, encourage and inspire my research. This blog continues due to you.

Finally, some stats:

• 32,004 - Total page views
• 1,300 - Approx. views per month
• 200 - Most page views in one day
• 3,135 - Most monthly page views (November 2011)

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut's Temple, Upper Terrace and Court in LEGO

Here is a selection of photographs of a reconstruction of parts of Hatshepsut's temple (Upper Terrace and Court) i made out of Lego. This was something i wanted to do for a while- and finally had the opportunity recently. Those of you who follow the Hatshepsut Project on Facebook will be familiar already with these.

Here i settled on a scale which allows me to show the central path from Upper Terrace doorway (where the 2 Lego men stand guard) to the Sanctuary entrance (large yellow doorway). The red bricks are there purely to keep my focus on a symmetrical look- a guideline.

The rear wall or "Western Wall" at the back of the Upper Court. This is the southern (left) side. A deliberate attempt was made to look like an archaeological work in progress.

Aerial view of the progress.The roof of the Upper Terrace is partially reconstructed. The relationships between the western wall and the Upper Terrace are being worked on- so to be as true as possible as the appear today.

Turned 180 degrees we now look from rear to front. The rear wall is complete with 9 niches each side of the Sanctuary entrance. In yellow brick, the remains of original 18th dynasty architectural elements plus guidelines for 2 walls which will soon connect the rear wall with the Upper Terrace, enclosing the Upper Court as a rectangular area, originally full of columns.

The red bricks now go beyond the Sanctuary door (top of picture) to allow for a reconstruction of the sanctuary itself. Four plinths can now be seen on the northern (right) side of the Upper Terrace for the display of heads. The Upper Terrace roof is complete.

Front view of the Western Wall with its tall and low niches. Atop is a suggestion of the wall which now protects the temple from rock fall from the cliffs above.

 The Sanctuary plus part of the Ptolomaic porch outside the sanctuary entrance, have been added.

The walls which connect the Western Wall to the Upper Terrace has been added, including doorways and niche. On the opposite side, a similar wall with doors has been started.

The final view. Osiride statues and heads have now been added

Regards,

Stuart.

Hatshepsut Museum Database blog has been deleted.

I have been spending too much time with the endless problems with having my database online - so i deleted it.

I am very much continuing with my own personal database of Hatshepsut items in museums, but on an offline database. All database updates will be from here, as before.

My passion is the research and i have been held back a great deal by trying to display the information in a coherent way. I have a number of projects which i can now spend further time on. Back to the books (which is a great relief).

I will concentrate further time on this blog. This will always be the flagshp for whatever the future brings for the Hatshepsut Project. Soon i will update older posts with photographs supplied by the members of the Hatshepsut Project- plus further information and  links in general.

Thanks to those who followed the deleted blog. Photographs of museum items will now be posted on here and in our Hatshepsut Project Group's photos page.


Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut Project (Facebook Group) Photo Collection

Our Facebook Group now has the beginnings of a photographic database. We now have hundreds of photos which can be used for reference or study.

Hatshepsut Project Group Photos

Please feel free to pop in and have a look - we are always open to new members and it is a group for all, with input from all.

Currently we have photos from Deir el Bahri, Karnak, Aswan Quarry (Unfinished obelisk), the cliffs above Deir el Bahri, Hatshepsut scarabs and more.

The list will continue to grow. Should you require permissions to use any of the photographs- that must come from the photographer. If you aren't a member- please ask me and i will make enquiries on your behalf. Personal use is fine, but those wanting to reproduce them must obtain permission first.

Regards,
Stuart