ABSTRACT
THISisthemostcompletetempleoftheperiodbetween theOldKingdomandthegreattemplesoftheXVIIIth dynasty.Itisthemortuarytempleoftwokings,MentuhetepIIwhobeganthebuilding,andMentuhetepIII whocompletedit.Theplanisunique,foritconsistsof apyramidalstructureinthecentre,standingonaplatform cutoutofthecliffandsurroundedbycolonnades.The pyramid,ofwhichlittleremains,wasonlysixtyfeetsquare atthebase;itwasapurelyarchitecturalfeature,andwas notintendedforuse,theburial-chamberofthekingfor whomitwasbuiltbeingenteredfromtheoutercourt andlyinginthecliffbehindthepyramid(pl.XXIX,2).
