3D Finite Elements Technique for Collapse Causes of the Pylons in Egyptian Temples: A Study of the Great Pylon of Ramesseum Temple, Luxor, Egypt

Essam H Mohamed

doi:10.4236/ojg.2019.913103

Abstract

This research presents damage causes of the pylons in the ancient Egyptian temples based on 3D finite elements analysis. The main purpose of the research determines the failure causes of the first pylon of the Ramessium temple, which is situated in Upper Egypt, at Luxor “Thebes” on the west bank of the Nile River. The first pylon of Ramessium temple subjected to seismic activity effects on long term, combined with several structural damage factors such as the defects resulting from the construction technique, where the builder used the poor quality of stones in foundations of the pylon, the building materials residue was used as filler for the core of the pylon walls, and it lacked vertical joints between the courses. In addition to it founded on alluvial soil that is vulnerable to contaminated water, it is still suffering damage factors and urban trespasses at the moment. All of the former factors helped the pylon to be affected by the earthquakes loads that occurred on it. The structural behavior of the pylon under self-weight and earthquakes loads were carried out by Numerical analysis to find out the loads and stresses which caused collapsing of the pylon. Results of the study indicated that the pylon subjected to a horizontal displacement due to old earthquakes force, led to collapse of the pylon. Finally, the study represents use of modern technique to study the structural behavior of the most important architectural units in ancient Egyptian temples to identify the causes of its collapse.

Highlights

The concept of conservation represents an important significance in thought of the man since pre-dynastic times, which seeks to conservation on all that has value; the architectural heritage in ancient Egypt varies between temples; tombs, pyramids, etc
The first pylon of Ramessium temple subjected to seismic activity effects on long term, combined with several structural damage factors such as the defects resulting from the construction technique, where the builder used the poor quality of stones in foundations of the pylon, the building materials residue was used as filler for the core of the pylon walls, and it lacked vertical joints between the courses
The study concluded that the first pylon of Ramesseum temple subjected to collapse due to the effect of horizontal displacement and shear force of old earthquakes jointly with construction defects and different deterioration factors, the previous results showed that the pylon was designed to resist dead loads but not suitable to resistance of earthquake loads, this explains collapse causes of the pylon, when it subjected to old earthquakes effects, in addition to other damage factors

Summary

Introduction

The concept of conservation represents an important significance in thought of the man since pre-dynastic times, which seeks to conservation on all that has value; the architectural heritage in ancient Egypt varies between temples; tombs, pyramids, etc. The mortuary temple of Ramessium at west Thebes (Qurna) was inscribed as a World Heritage Site (UNESCO) in 1979 as a part of ancient Thebes and its Necropolis It is located nearly 670 km to south of Cairo, it is situated on the west bank of the Nile, its location Latitude: 25 ̊43'57'', Longitude: 32 ̊37'42.96'', it has had many values & significance, the most important values are: archaeological, historical, architectural and artistic values, the ancient Egyptians called the temple the “million years temple” due to its huge surface area [1]. It is home to great statues of Ramses II that were built on the site It took 20 years and tens of thousands of workers to build the huge complex that was dedicated to the God Amun. This temple was constructed to serve two purposes; the one that the temple was publicly built to allow the ancient Egyptians to practice their religious rituals, including prayer and ritual offerings to the gods, the second purpose, it was constructed to show the Pharaoh’s greatness and his political and military accomplishments, and perhaps more so (Figure 1)

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