Felix Arnold | German Archaeological Institute (original) (raw)

Books by Felix Arnold

Traduccion en castellano del libro Madrider Beiträge 30

The monuments of Egypt have fascinated generations of visitors and scientists alike. The shear ma... more The monuments of Egypt have fascinated generations of visitors and scientists alike. The shear mass of the pyramids of Giza, the interaction of the temples at Deir el-Bahari with the natural environment, and the use of light in the hypostyle hall of Karnak make these buildings world-class masterpieces of architecture, rivaling those of Greece and Rome. This essay-like book offers an overview of Egyptian architecture written from the point of view of an archaeologist and architectural historian with decades of field-work experience in Egypt and other countries. It focuses on 15 selected masterpieces, from well-known buildings like the Bent Pyramid in Dahshur and the temple of Horus at Edfu to lesser known monuments in Hierakonpolis, Abydos, Hawara and Bubastis. Each of these buildings represents an important stage in the development of Egyptian architecture, and a different vision of what architecture is able to achieve. Through descriptions and original drawings, the book presents new insights into form, meaning, and the organization of space, providing a fresh perspective on Egyptian culture and society. It thus offers an introduction to ancient Egyptian architecture for visitors to the monuments as well as for general readers, students, and those interested in comparing Egyptian architecture with other traditions of architecture.

Die Knickpyramide in Dahschur war der erste – wenn auch fehlgeschlagene – Versuch, eine geometris... more Die Knickpyramide in Dahschur war der erste – wenn auch fehlgeschlagene – Versuch, eine geometrisch „echte“ Pyramide zu bauen. Sie ist damit ein Denkmal von Weltrang. Im Tal der Pyramide legte Akhmed Fakhry 1951-1955 die Reste eines zur Pyramide gehörenden Tempels frei, auch dieser der älteste seiner Art. In dem vorliegenden Band werden die Ergebnisse von Nachuntersuchungen vorgelegt, die der Autor zwischen 2012 und 2016 im Umfeld des Tempels durchgeführt hat. Der Bau wurde umfassend neu dokumentiert und untersucht. Bei Grabungen wurde zudem ein Vorgängerbau des Tempels entdeckt, der eine große Gartenanlage umfasste. Er wirft ein ganz neues Licht auf den Ursprung des Tempels und die Entwicklung der ägyptischen Pyramidentempel insgesamt. Untersuchungen im Umfeld des Tempels erlauben zudem eine Rekonstruktion der späteren Nutzungsgeschichte des Baukomplexes. Unter anderem wurden Siedlungsreste des frühen und des späten Alten Reiches identifiziert, Hinweise auf das Fortbestehen des Kultes im Mittleren Reich sowie den Abbau des Tempels im Neuen Reich. In dem Band werden die architektonischen und archäologischen Befunde umfassend dargestellt, inklusive der bei den neuen Grabungen entdeckten Keramik und Kleinfunde, und anschließend in ihren historischen und kulturellen Rahmen gestellt. Der Band liefert einen substanziellen Beitrag zur Geschichte der ägyptischen Pyramidentempel.

Die Broschüre "Archäologische Forschungen des DAI in Afrika 2018" informiert auf Deutsch und Engl... more Die Broschüre "Archäologische Forschungen des DAI in Afrika 2018" informiert auf Deutsch und Englisch über alle aktuellen Projekte von Marokko und Tunesien über Ägypten, Sudan und Äthiopien bis nach Südafrika im Rahmen des TransArea Network Africa.

In the country estate of ar-Rummānīya near Córdoba (Spain) the remains of an Islamic garden of th... more In the country estate of ar-Rummānīya near Córdoba (Spain) the remains of an Islamic garden of the 10th century are preserved on three terraces. This book presents the results of a comprehensive archaeological study of the garden, in particular the results of archaeobotanical studies. For the first time, insights into the design of a garden from the heyday of Islamic culture could be gained.

Palaces like the Aljafería and the Alhambra rank among the highest achievements of the Islamic wo... more Palaces like the Aljafería and the Alhambra rank among the highest achievements of the Islamic world. In recent years archaeological work at Córdoba, Kairouan and many other sites has vastly increased our knowledge about the origin and development of Islamic palatial architecture, particularly in the Western Mediterranean region. This book offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of Islamic palace architecture in Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and southern Italy. The author, who has himself conducted archaeological field work at several prominent sites, presents all Islamic palaces known in the region in ground plans, sections and individual descriptions. The book traces the evolution of Islamic palace architecture in the region from the 8th to the 19th century and places them within the context of the history of Islamic culture. Palace architecture is a unique source of cultural history, offering insights into the way space was conceived and the way rulers used architecture to legitimize their power. The book discusses such topics as the influence of the architecture of the Middle East on the Islamic palaces of the western Mediterranean region, the role of Greek logic and scientific progress on the design of palaces, the impact of Islamic palaces on Norman and Gothic architecture and the role of Sufism on the palatial architecture of the late medieval period.

In der Glanzzeit des Kalifats war die Stadt Córdoba (Spanien) von luxuriösen Landvillen umgeben. ... more In der Glanzzeit des Kalifats war die Stadt Córdoba (Spanien) von luxuriösen Landvillen umgeben. Historische Quellen berichten von prachtvollen Palastanlagen, exotischen Gärten und ausgedehnten Ländereien. Die Bauten stehen am Anfang einer Entwicklung, die später zum Bau der Alhambra in Granada führte, aber auch auf die europäische Architektur- und Landschaftsgestaltung Einfluss nahm. Im vorliegenden Band werden erstmals die archäologischen Überreste einer solchen Landvilla umfassend vorgestellt.
Der Landsitz ar-Rummānīya liegt am Fuß der Sierra Morena, rund 10 km westlich des Stadtzentrums von Córdoba und 2 km westlich der Palaststadt Madinat al-Zahrā’. Die Anlage wurde vermutlich von ad-Durrī „dem Kleinen“, einem Finanzminister des Kalifen al-Hakam I., um das Jahr 965 errichtet. Sie umfasst vier Terrassen, von denen drei als Garten gestaltet waren. Auf der obersten Terrasse lagen Wohngebäude sowie ein ungewöhnlich großes Wasserbecken. Architektonischer Höhepunkt war ein Saalbau, der sich einerseits zu dem Wasserbecken, andererseits zu dem Garten öffnete. Der Saal ist insofern von besonderer Bedeutung, als bei der Anlage seiner Arkaden erstmals die Prinzipien der Perspektive berücksichtigt fanden.
Die vorliegende Monographie ist Ergebnis eines seit 2006 laufenden Gemeinschaftsprojektes des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, der Universidad Autónoma de Madrid und des Conjunto Arqueológico de Madinat al-Zahra. Neben einer detaillierten Beschreibung der baulichen Überreste und der archäologischen Grabungsbefunde umfasst der Band Beiträge zur Geschichte, Geologie, Wassertechnik und Botanik des Fundplatzes. Zudem stellt der Band den Landsitz in den Kontext der Geschichte der islamischen Palastarchitektur im Allgemeinen.

Publication of houses of the Late Antique and Early Medieval Period (Fifth to Ninth Centuries AD)... more Publication of houses of the Late Antique and Early Medieval Period (Fifth to Ninth Centuries AD) on Elephantine, including a general study of tower houses in Egypt

Ancient Egypt by Felix Arnold

Archäologischer Anzeiger, 2024

Some scholars have suggested that the design of Hellenistic terraced sanctuaries was based on Egy... more Some scholars have suggested that the design of Hellenistic terraced sanctuaries was based on Egyptian prototypes. On the basis of several new observations on Egyptian architecture, the paper proposes to re-frame the question in a new con-text. Recent studies on changes in the ancient landscape indicates, for example, that the valley temples of the Old Kingdom did not stand next to harbor basins, but on terraces within garden enclosures. They therefore could be regarded as precursors to the terraced temples of the Middle and New Kingdoms at Deir el-Bahari. This tradi-tion appears to have been revived in the Late Period temples at Sakkara, including the temple of Imhotep/Asklepios. This building may be the ›missing link‹ between Egyptian and Hellenistic architecture: both the temple of Imhotep at Sakkara and the sanctuary of Asklepios at Kos were embellished by Ptolemy II. The paper suggests new perspectives on Egyptian-Hellenistic cultural contacts.

Estimating the size of urban population

The article offers a reconstruction of a temple built by Ramses II south of the Ptah precinct at ... more The article offers a reconstruction of a temple built by Ramses II south of the Ptah precinct at Memphis.
As reconstructed, the temple comprised an elongated forecourt surrounded on three sides by Hathor
columns. A pronaos with two rows of columns, at least one of which consisted of papyrus columns
was built on the fourth side. Based on typological considerations, the building may be identified as the
“House of Millions of Years” built by Ramses II within the precinct of Hathor at Memphis.

Egyptian pyramid temples of the Old Kingdom show a gradual development from temples with large co... more Egyptian pyramid temples of the Old Kingdom show a gradual development from temples with large courtyards and few interior spaces opening onto the courtyard (Snofru, Cheops, Mykerinos) to temples with small courtyards and closed interior spaces extending in depth (Sahure, Niuserre). On the one hand, this development necessitated the placing of windows in the rear rooms of the temple. On the other hand, it became possible to accentuate the interior rooms through the deliberate use of light. The pyramid temples thus present an early example of the discovery of light as a forming principle in architecture.

The creation of short access routes was not among the aims of architects in early dynastic Egypt.... more The creation of short access routes was not among the aims of architects in early dynastic Egypt. In many palaces, long and winding corridors led from the palace gate to the audience hall. As a result, the space allotted to entrance ways occupies a significant part of the total surface area of the buildings. The narrow corridors serve as a means for monitoring those who seek access, while at the same time they convey the impression of a palace of limitless size. The visitor quickly loses his orientation, to be struck only the more forcibly by the grandeur of the courtyards and halls in the interior of the palace. A very similar attitude toward the design of access routes can be observed in the “ciudadelas” of the Chimú-state of northern Peru. Here, a confusing network of corridors connects courtyards, reception areas (so called “audiencias”) and magazines. Does the similarity in the structure of the ground plan in the two cultures suggest similarities in the conception of power? Is it possible to assume a ritual function for winding corridors,
e.g. forming part of the “rite de passage” of rulers? The aim of the paper is to compare palaces at Abydos, Buto and Sakkara in Egypt (3rd millennium BC) with those in Chan Chan in Peru (2nd millennium AD), and to suggest possible analogies in the respective interpretations of kingship.

Traduccion en castellano del libro Madrider Beiträge 30

Archäologischer Anzeiger, 2024

Estimating the size of urban population

MDAIK 72, 2016

Festschrift für Stephan J. Seidlmayer, 2022

SDAIK 47, 2022

While many houses and streets have been investigated at Elephantine over the course of the past 5... more While many houses and streets have been investigated at Elephantine over the course of the past 50 years, little progress has been made so far in identifying spaces dedicated to the communal life of the town. In this paper three spaces found in the archaeological record are considered that would have been large enough to hold crowds of people. The “drinking place” of the Middle Kingdom, the “festival courtyard” of the New Kingdom and the temple courtyard of the Roman Period had a surface area sufficiently large for the entire adult population of the town to gather. In each case, additional evidence suggests that these spaces were intended to be used by “ordinary” members of the town population. They were all spaces of a religious nature, in which people witnessed rituals connected to festivals. At the same time they are likely to have served a social and even a recreational function. The most important communal space of economic significance – the market place – has not been discovered so far at Elephantine, however, and may have been located at the harbor of the town.

Diskussionen zu Archäologischen Bauforschung 13, 2020

Egyptian temples were built for eternity. Therefore, despite frequent extensions, remodeling and ... more Egyptian temples were built for eternity. Therefore, despite frequent extensions, remodeling and restoration, it was rarely decided to build them completely new. What were the reasons for this decision? The example of the temple of Satet at Elephantine shows that, apart from political considerations, a change in the temple's purpose made a new construction necessary. Under Senwosret I (1961-1917 B.C.) the Satet temple served above all the protection of the cult image. Under Hatshepsut (1473-1458 B.C.) the temple was part of the extensive infrastructure of the publicly celebrated festivals of the gods. Under Ptolemy VI (from 164 BC), the temple was finally intended to make the power of the goddess Satet manifest.

MDAIK, 2019

Excavations carried out in the town of Elephan-tine over the past 50 years have yielded examples ... more Excavations carried out in the town of Elephan-tine over the past 50 years have yielded examples of houses from all periods of its long history. Given the constancy of basic conditions for constructing houses on the island such as climate, location and the possibilities and limitations of building materials, the author asks why the layout and design of houses differ significantly from one period of occupation to the next. Based on the comparison of buildings that are believed to exemplify the houses constructed during four periods of Elephantine’s history, the au-thor suggests that these differences are linked to changes in the way the owners of the houses related to the wider community. The study of domestic ar-chitecture would thus reveal not only how societies have coped with the conditions of their environment, but how they defined man and his place in society.

The excavations in the ancient town of Elephantine carried out by the German Archaeological Insti... more The excavations in the ancient town of Elephantine carried out by the German Archaeological Institute Cairo in cooperation with the Swiss Institute for Egyptian Building Archaeology since 1969 were continued in the season 2014/2015. Research concentrated on two major areas, namely excavations in the ancient town and in the area of the temple of Khnum.
In the settlement the German Archaeological Institute continued its archaeometrical project in the ancient town (see section 2). The Swiss Institute resumed the excavation of a building to the south of Heqaib Sanctuary in the framework of its study of the New Kingdom town of the island (see section 3).
At the site of the temple of Khnum the German Archaeological Institute continued the project on the reconstruction of the New Kingdom temples and sanctuaries of Khnum (see section 4) from re-used blocks found in the foundations of the later temple. Work of the Swiss Institute concentrated on various aspects of this late temple, its precinct and its furnishings (see sections 5).
Apart from this, the documentation and the study of finds played an important part in the work of the last season. Work on the pottery of the Middle and New Kingdom was continued by scientists from the German and Swiss Institute (sections 6–7). Furthermore, glass objects, silex tools and animal remains were studied (see section 8–10).
Conservation and reconstruction work was carried out by the Swiss Institute on blocks of the late temple of Osiris Nesmeti and the building of the same temple as well as on the small obelisks from the balustrade of the Roman river terrace of the temple of Khnum (section 11).
The German Archaeological Institute started and completed a major inventory in the so-called Annex magazines on the island and managed to transfer finds from several seasons to the new magazine near the local inspectorate. Apart from that new storage space for mass finds was built (section 12).
Last but not least a major effort was made by the German Institute in cooperation with the Aswan inspectorate in improving the relationship to the local inhabitants of the island by arranging an archaeology day for the pupils of the villages on Elephantine (section 13).

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.

استأنف المعهد الألمانى للآثار بالقاهرة( DAI )، بالتعاون مع المعهد السويسرى لآثار العمارة المصرية... more استأنف المعهد الألمانى للآثار بالقاهرة( DAI )، بالتعاون مع المعهد السويسرى لآثار العمارة المصرية القديمة أعمالهما التى بدأت منذ عام 1969لاستكشاف المدينة القديمة، ومعابد جزيرة إليفنتين، فى الفترة من 13 أكتوبر 2015 حتى 31مايو 2016 .
واصل المعهد الألمانى مشروع بحثة الاركيومترى" وقائع الحياة" فى المدينة الشمالية الغربية القديمة (مقطع 2) بإليفنتين. نفذت البعثة موسمين للحفائر بين خريف 2015 حتى صيف 2016، وموسم لدراسة المكتشفات. كما استأنف المعهد السويسرى الحفائر فى الأبنية الواقعة إلى جنوب قدس أقداس حكا إيب فى إطار دراسته لعمارة مدينة الدولة الحديثة على جزيرة إليفنتين. حيث تركز العمل فى منطقة معبد خنوم لدراسة مناحى مختلفة للمعبد المتأخر، وحدوده، وأبنيته ( مقطع3).
إضافة إلى تنفيذ مشاريع أخرى تهدف إلى دراسة مجموعات القطع الأثرية. أنهى المعهد الألمانى دراسة كتل تحمل مناظر تعود للدولة الحديثة من معبد خنوم( مقطع 4). كشفت البعثة أثناء إزالة الرديم عن لوحة لسنوسرت الثالث( مقطع5). واستمرت دراسة زخارف معابد إليفنتين التى تعود للعصر اليونانى الرومانى (مقطع6). كما استأنف المعهد السويسرى أعمال صيانة وإعادة بناء معبد أوزيريس نسمتى (مقطع 7). ونفذ المعهد الألمانى بالتعاون مع المعهد العلمى الفرنسى للآثار الشرقية مشروع لدراسة البيئة المحيطة وقطع تعود لعصور مبكرة من تاريخ إليفنتين، وذلك بتحليل دور المستوطنة( مقطع 8)، كما نفذا مشروعا لدراسة قطع الصوان واستخدامتهم (مقطع 9).
بذل المعهد الألمانى للآثار جهودا كبيرة بالتعاون مع تفتيش آثار أسوان، ومتحف النوبة هذا الموسم لتحسين العلاقة بين الآثريين، وسكان منطقة أسوان بتدريب الزملاء المحليين العاملين فى مجال الآثار والعلاقات العامة( مقطع 10-11).

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.

Archaeological evidence for the plundering of the Khnum temple on Elephantine (Egypt) in the 4th ... more Archaeological evidence for the plundering of the Khnum temple on Elephantine (Egypt) in the 4th century AD

The investigation of the relief decoration of the Khnum temple of the New Kingdom was continued i... more The investigation of the relief decoration of the Khnum temple of the New Kingdom was continued in 2014 and 2015. The aim of this season was to complete the documentation of the blocks that had been reused in the temple house of Nectanebos II. The blocks appear to originate from at least two different buildings. The first building was a small barque station built by Queen Hatshepsut in the early part of her reign for the processional barque of Khnum. The second building was founded by Thutmosis I and finished or enlarged by Thutmosis II. Both buildings originally stood to the west of the main temple of Khnum, in the area later occupied by the temple house of Nectanebos II.

From autumn 2010 to spring 2013 the German Archaeological Institute and the Swiss Institute for A... more From autumn 2010 to spring 2013 the German Archaeological Institute and the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research on Ancient Egypt continued the investigation of the city and temples of Elephantine (Aswan). The preliminary report presents the results of some of the projects conducted during this period.
As part of the ongoing rehabilitation work at the museum buildings located on the island of Elephantine, excavations were conducted near the northeastern limit of the ancient town. Among the earliest remains found in the area is a well preserved section of the city wall of the late 2nd dynasty. Outside the perimeter of this wall Nile sediments dating to the Old Kingdom were identified, as well as settlement remains of the 6th to 12th dynasties. Several pottery kilns of the early Middle Kingdom were discovered here. A later city wall appears to have been constructed during the reign of Senwosret III and it seems to have existed until the early New Kingdom.
The documentation and study of the relief blocks originating from the Khnum temple of the New Kingdom was continued. Many of the blocks can be attributed to the temple house, the courtyard and the first pylon built by Thutmosis III, as well as to the festival courtyard which was added by Amenophis II. Some of the blocks appear to originate from other, so far unknown buildings of the temple complex, including a cult building of Thutmosis I and II, a barque station of Hatshepsut and a construction of Thutmosis IV.
The aim of another project has been the investigation of workshop areas of the Late Antique Period. During the excavation of a house dating to the 5th–9th centuries AD, evidence for the baking of bread, the keeping of animals and the production of granodiorite bowls has been found. Nearby an oven used for smelting non-ferrous metal was identified. Fragments of melting pots, casting molds and slag provide information on the production process.

erscheint seit 1930 MDAIK 70/71 -2014/2015 · V, 522 Seiten mit 465 Abbildungen Die Abkürzungen de... more erscheint seit 1930 MDAIK 70/71 -2014/2015 · V, 522 Seiten mit 465 Abbildungen Die Abkürzungen der ägyptologischen Literatur folgen den Regeln des Lexikon der Ägyptologie und dem Abkürzungsverzeichnis des DAI Kairo in: MDAIK 56, 2000, S. 397-411.

Barque station of Hatshepsut, building of Thutmosis I-II, new stela of Senwosret III

Jahresbericht 2012 und 2013

Modelle im Alten Ägypten, 2023

Michael Rohde (ed.), Historische Gärten und Gesellschaft, 2020

A garden in the desert: Pharaonic landscape architecture.

The focus of the field work at Dahshur (Egypt) lays on the investigation of the area surrounding ... more The focus of the field work at Dahshur (Egypt) lays on the investigation of the area surrounding the valley temple of the Bent Pyramid. The aim was to investigate the development of the temple precinct and its surrounding area. Excavation work was conducted in six sections located to the north, east and south of the temple enclosure. Among the main results are the discovery of a settlement for priests south of the temple and the identification of various rituals that took place in and around the temple precinct. Die Grabungen in Dahschur konzentrierten sich im Frühjahr 2016 auf den Tempelbezirk des König Snofru im Tal der Knickpyramide. Ziel der Kampagne war die Klärung der Entwicklungsgeschichte der Tempelanlage und seines Umfeldes. Auf der Nord-, Ost-und Südseite des Tempels wurden insgesamt sechs Grabungsschnitte angelegt (Abb. 1. 2). Dabei wurden Reste einer Priestersiedlung entdeckt sowie vielfältige Hinweise auf die Rituale, die im Laufe der Zeit in und um den Tempel vollzogen wurden.

The Bent Pyramid of king Snefru at Dahshur is known as the first attempt to construct a geometric... more The Bent Pyramid of king Snefru at Dahshur is known as the first attempt to construct a geometrically "true" pyramid -though ultimately structural problems forced a change to be made in the angle that led to its characteristic "bent" shape. With a base length of 189 m, a height of 105 m and a total volume of more than 1.2 million m 3 , the Bent Pyramid is also the first in a series of extremely large pyramids, which includes the Red Pyramid of the same king at Dahshur and the pyramids of Khufu and Khafra at Giza.

Marks written on building material are a unique source for reconstructing the building process of... more Marks written on building material are a unique source for reconstructing the building process of Ancient Egyptian architecture. Based on the marks recently documented at the so called valley temple of the Bent Pyramid in Dahshur, this contribution attempts to reconstruct certain aspects of the logistics involved in constructing one of the major pyramids of Egypt. Preserved are indications of block sizes, marks designating teams of workmen as well as calendar dates. The marks preserved on the temple blocks suggest, that the building material was collected by four or five teams of workmen within a four month period. The stones were then kept in a storage place from which builders could later draw for constructing the temple. The author argues that the marks were written as a tool for distributing work, rather than a means of account keeping. The same system was used for organizing the material needed for the casing of the pyramids.

Im Frühjahr 2014 stießen Mitarbeiter des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts in der Königsnekropo... more Im Frühjahr 2014 stießen Mitarbeiter des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts in der Königsnekropole Dahschur auf die Reste einer großen Gartenanlage. Bemerkenswert ist nicht nur ihr Erhaltungszustand und ihre Ausdehnung, sondern auch ihr Alter. Der Garten stammt aus den ersten Regierungsjahren des Königs Snofru (4. Dyn. des Alten Reiches, um 2.600 v. Chr.) und ist damit die älteste Gartenanlage dieser Größenordnung, die in Ägypten bislang entdeckt worden ist.

DESCRIPTION In spring 2014 the team of the German Archaeological Institute (Cairo) continued its ... more DESCRIPTION In spring 2014 the team of the German Archaeological Institute (Cairo) continued its work at Dahshur. The focus was the excavation of an extensive brick structure north of the valley temple of king Snefru. The building is older than the stone temple and more extensive than previously thought. It was surrounded by a massive brick enclosure wall. Much of the area encompassed by the enclosure wall was occupied by a garden with tree pits. In addition, a limited magnetometric investigation was conducted to the northwest and south of the temple area. Here, extensive settlements were discovered.

Madrider Mitteilungen, 2023

Among the lesser-known areas of the Alhambra are two courtyards which at one time had formed the ... more Among the lesser-known areas of the Alhambra are two courtyards which at one time had formed the public access to the Nasrid palace. The so-called Patio de Machuca and the adjoining Patio de la Madraza de los Príncipes were excavated by Modesto Cen-doya Busquets in 1915–1923 and restored by Leopoldo Torres Balbás in 1924–1931. Ángel C. López López and Antonio Orihuela Uzal convincingly identified the building as the inner and outer mašwar of Muḥammad V as described by Ibn al-Ḫaṭīb in 1362. The present paper presents the results of a documentation of the remains preserved today. Among the results are indications of previous building phases, as well as con-struction details. Based on the available information, suggestions of the original appearance of the courtyards are presented, as well as their function within the public audiences of the Nasrid sultan, especially in the context of legal proceedings.

Madrider Mitteilungen, 2009

Einführung zu einer Festveranstaltung zu Ehren von Christian Ewert, am 4. Juni 2007 in Madrid

A. Carretero Pérez & C. Papí Rodes (coords.): Actualidad de la Investigación Arqueológica en España I (2018-2019). Conferencias impartidas en el Museo Arqueológico Nacional. Madrid, pp. 197-214., 2020

Madīnat al-Zahrā’ was founded in 940 CE near Córdoba, Spain as the capital of the Umayyad calipha... more Madīnat al-Zahrā’ was founded in 940 CE near Córdoba, Spain as the capital of the Umayyad caliphate. The aim of a five-year project conducted by the German Archaeological Institute and the Conjunto Arqueológico de Madinat al-Zahra in cooperation with the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid is the investigation of the so called Plaza de Armas, the central public square of the city. In 2017 the remains of the great portico were studied, which constituted the western limit of the plaza and the façade of the caliphal palace. In 2018 and 2019 the eastern side of the plaza was studied, revealing a second great portico, a gate and a large administrative complex located further east. Four phases of construction and use of the plaza could be differentiated, providing new insight into the way the caliphate presented itself to the public changed from the foundation of the city to its destruction in 1010 CE.

Madīnat az-Zahrāʾ served as the capital of the Umayyad caliphate between 940 and 1016 CE. The sit... more Madīnat az-Zahrāʾ served as the capital of the Umayyad caliphate between 940 and 1016 CE. The site has been the subject of archaeological excavations for more than a century. The aim of a new project conducted by the Junta de Andalucía and the German Archaeological Institute is the investigation of the ›Plaza de Armas‹, located to the east of the main palace area. The present paper provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the development of the site. Four phases are identified and analyzed regarding the overall design of the site and its function. During Phase I, a vast garden palace was constructed as a private residence of the caliph (940 CE). During Phase II, a mosque, administrative buildings and workshops were added outside the palace walls and the site thus turned into a capital city (944–948 CE). During Phase III, these new structures were incorporated into an overarching scheme, which now also incorporated large stables and houses for soldiers (950–957 CE). Finally, during Phase IV structures for controlling access to the palace were enhanced (ca. 980 CE).

e-Forschungsberichte, 2019

Madinat al-Zahra’ was founded in 940 AD near Córdoba, Spain as the capital of the Umayyad calipha... more Madinat al-Zahra’ was founded in 940 AD near Córdoba, Spain as the capital of the Umayyad caliphate. The aim of a five-year project of the German Archaeological Institute and the Junta de Andalucía is the investigation of the socalled Plaza de Armas, the central public square of the city. This season the eastern limit of the plaza was studied, providing new insight into the development of the plaza. Originally two separate building complexes stood across from each other, the palace of the caliph to the west and a second palace to the east, possibly inhabited by the crown prince. In a second phase a monumental plaza was constructed between the two existing buildings. Two porticos now faced each other across the plaza. This season a part of the eastern portico was excavated, including the central gate leading to the eastern palace. In 1010 AD the portico and the gate were destroyed by fire. From the destruction debris, elements of the gate were recovered, among them fragments of an arcade that had been located above the gate. Iron fittings of the gate were found, as well as an iron clad shutter of the arcade.

Structural analysis of the wooden roof construction of the Mezquita in Córdoba and its possible p... more Structural analysis of the wooden roof construction of the Mezquita in Córdoba and its possible prototypes.

Resumen del proyecto de investigación en la almunia de al-Rummaniyya (Córdoba) / Summary of the e... more Resumen del proyecto de investigación en la almunia de al-Rummaniyya (Córdoba) / Summary of the excavation project at al-Rummaniyya (Córdoba) 2006 - 2014

Madinat al-Zahra is today one of the most important archaeological sites of the Islamic culture i... more Madinat al-Zahra is today one of the most important archaeological sites of the Islamic culture in the west Mediterranean region. In 2018 the site was designated a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. A five-year project which is conducted by the German Archaeological Institute and the Junta de Andalucía in cooperation with the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid is dedicated to the investigation of the Plaza de Armas of Madīnat az-Zahrāʾ, the main public square of the caliphal city. The aim of the second season of field work was the investigation of the eastern side of the plaza, an area previously untouched by excavations. The excavation work revealed the remains of an isolated pavilion which stood on top of a high platform. The T-shaped layout of the pavilion is reminiscent of Sasanian and Abbasid reception halls (maglis al-Hiri). The pavilion is the first example of this type to be found west of Tunisia, and sheds new light on the influence of Abbasid architecture on the design of Madinat al-Zahra.

In 10th-century Córdoba, mathematics—and particularly geometry—was applied to architectural desig... more In 10th-century Córdoba, mathematics—and particularly geometry—was applied to architectural design in new ways, constituting a “mathematical turn” of Islamic architecture. In the mosque of Córdoba and in the palaces of Madīnat al-Zahrāʾ, geometry was employed in the design of ground plans, elevations, decorative patterns, and even to measure the human view. While Roman architects like Vitruvius had used mathematics to place each element of a building in its appropriate relation to all other elements of a building, the architects at Córdoba employed geometry to create a spatial web in which all parts are equal to each other and part of a single, unified space. The architects of Córdoba thus pointed the way to new possibilities of designing architecture, possibilities which were to be tested further by architects of Gothic and Renaissance architecture, though to different ends.

Madinat al-Zahra was the capital of the 10th century Umayyad caliphate in al-Andalus and is today... more Madinat al-Zahra was the capital of the 10th century Umayyad caliphate in al-Andalus and is today one of the most important sites of Islamic culture in the west. A new project is dedicated to the investigation of the Plaza de Armas, the main public square of the caliphal city. The aim of the first season of field work was the investigation of the Great Portico, which delimits the Plaza de Armas in the west and forms the façade of the caliphal palace. The building history of the portico was clarified, as well as the reconstruction of the portico based on building elements found during the excavation of the portico in 1975. In addition, a geophysical survey was conducted in the area to the east of the Plaza de Armas, in order to study the eastern limit of the plaza. The dimension and structure of several buildings could be determined. In addition a geomagnetic survey was conducted in the garden area of the palace.

Reconstruction of the building of al-Mundir in Resafa (Syria)

The Islamic country estate of ar-Rummānīya is located in the foothills of the Sierra Morena, some... more The Islamic country estate of ar-Rummānīya is located in the foothills of the Sierra Morena, some 10 km west of the city of Córdoba (Spain). The estate was erected in 965 CE by ad-Durrī “the Little”, a finance minister of the caliph al-Hakam II. The building complex encompasses four terraces, three of which were designed as gardens. On the uppermost terrace stood a series of palatial buildings, including two halls and a large water basin. The aim of the last two seasons of excavation has been the investigation of the garden. Detailed information was gained on the irrigation system and the kinds of plants that grew here. Botanical studies provide evidence for the presence of olive trees, almonds, pomegranate, vine, myrtle and lavender as well as a range of herbs and flowers.

Architecture is one of the primary sources for writing the history of a culture. In order to tap... more Architecture is one of the primary sources for writing
the history of a culture. In order to tap into this source,
buildings must be understood as architecture designed by
man. The present paper attempts to do this by taking the
so-called Salón Rico of Madīnat az-Zahrā’ in Córdoba (Spain,
954 – 956 A.D.) as an example. The point of departure is the
question how the designs of buildings originate. Neither the
technical means available to the architect nor the existence
of prototypes are able to explain satisfactorily why buildings
are designed the way they are. Rather, architecture must be
understood as an interpretation of human actions in space.
The decision to arrange space in a certain way and thus interpret the function of a building is based on a specific image of man. Understood in this way, the architectural design of the Salón Rico allows the viewer to make inferences on the underlying image of man and power in Islamic Córdoba – two fundamental themes of cultural history.

FELIX ARNOLD REZEPTION EINER ORIENTALISCHEN WOHNFORM AUF DER IBERISCHEN HALBINSEL Im 12. Jh. wurd... more FELIX ARNOLD REZEPTION EINER ORIENTALISCHEN WOHNFORM AUF DER IBERISCHEN HALBINSEL Im 12. Jh. wurden in der Wohnhausarchitektur auf der iberischen Halbinsel zwei wichtige Neuerungen eingeführt: die Betonung der Mitte in der Fassade durch einen Bogen 1 und die Erweiterung des Wohnraumes um einen Turm mit Aussicht (mirador). Beide Neuerungen beruhen auf Vorbildern des 10. Jhs. in Nordafrika und lassen sich -wie noch zu zeigen sein wird -in letzter Konsequenz auf Vorläufer in der abbasidischen Wohnarchitektur des 8. und 9. Jhs. zurückführen. Die große räumliche und zeitliche Distanz zwischen Vorbild im Osten und Kopie im Westen bietet eine Gelegenheit, den Prozess von Rezeption und lokaler Adaption innerhalb der islamischen Welt beispielhaft zu untersuchen 2 .

Perspektiven und Ergebnisse der Arbeit des Forschungsclusters 3 und Beiträge seiner Abschlusstagu... more Perspektiven und Ergebnisse der Arbeit des Forschungsclusters 3 und Beiträge seiner Abschlusstagung vom 20.-22. Juni 2012 in München Herausgegeben von Rudolf Haensch und Ulrike Wulf-Rheidt VI, 152 Seiten mit 84 Abbildungen Titelvignette: Megalithgebiet von Vale de Rodrigo, Cromlech dos Almendres (Foto: Philine Kalb, Frankfurt a. M.) Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Haensch, Rudolf / Wulf-Rheidt, Ulrike (Hrsg.): Dialoge über politische Räume in vormodernen Kulturen ; Perspektiven und Ergebnisse der Arbeit des Forschungsclusters 3 und Beiträge seiner Abschlusstagung vom 20.-22. Juni 2012 in München. Rahden/Westf.: Leidorf 2013 (Menschen -Kulturen -Traditionen ; ForschungsCluster 3 ; Bd. 13) ISBN 978-3-86757-393-1 Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie. Detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.d-nb.de abrufbar. Gedruckt auf alterungsbeständigem Papier Alle Rechte vorbehalten

The chronicle of ar-Rāzī comprises detailed descriptions of audiences held at the court of Calip... more The chronicle of ar-Rāzī comprises detailed descriptions
of audiences held at the court of Caliph al-H. akam II in
Córdoba, among them the reception of Gˇaʿfar ibn ʿAlī and his followers in 971. From the arrival at the border, the escort to Córdoba, a military parade in the capital, through to a reception with military honours in the city-palace of Madīnat az-Zahrā’ to the audience with the caliph, these descriptions provide an indication of contemporary ceremony concerning receptions. Since the architectural setting, too, is known from excavations in Córdoba and Madīnat az-Zahrā’, the role of architecture in staging these court ceremonies can be judged. However, there seem to be different concepts between the ceremonial and the architectural setting: while the protocol describes a linear way leading to the ruler and a hierarchical structure of the participants, the architecture points to a worldly and human notion based on the idea that all believers are equal.

Das islamische Reich al-Andalus gilt schon lange als Vermittler antiken Wissens an die Höfe Itali... more Das islamische Reich al-Andalus gilt schon lange als Vermittler antiken Wissens an die Höfe Italiens. Archäologische Untersuchungen einer Gartenanlage bei Córdoba lassen nun vermuten, dass das neue Menschenbild der Renaissance zudem von muslimischen Errungenschaften inspiriert war.

L’étude archéologique d’un parc privé d’époque califale de la région de Cordoue suggère que le ja... more L’étude archéologique d’un parc privé d’époque califale de la région de Cordoue suggère que le jardin oriental et la conception de l’homme qu’il convie ont eu une influence sur
la concrétisation des idées humanistes dans les jardins d’agrément de la toute première Renaissance italienne.

Iberia Archaeologica 14,3, 2023

In 1943 the newly founded Madrid department of the German Archaeological Institute moved into roo... more In 1943 the newly founded Madrid department of the German Archaeological Institute moved into rooms of the German Cultural Institute, which had been estab-lished in 1940 in the Paseo de Castellana. The building was renovated by the Austrian architect Robert Kram-reiter in the contemporary neoclassical style of the Ger-man state architecture, emulating the »Führerbau« in Munich. In 1953 the department was reopened in Calle Serrano 159, in a building of a very different style and character. It forms part of the El Viso neighborhood, a housing development constructed by the Spanish archi-tect Rafael Bergamín Gutiérrez between 1933 and 1936 in the modern style. According to the architect, the set-tlement of El Viso was intended to give peace and a cer-tain independence to people who live by their work.

Spuren der altägyptischen Gesellschaft

The legitimacy of studying Egyptian architecture on the basis of aesthetic considerations has bee... more The legitimacy of studying Egyptian architecture on the basis of aesthetic considerations has been disputed in the past. Based on examples from the New Kingdom temples of Elephantine, the paper suggests that aesthetics were indeed a driving force in the design process of Egyptian architecture, at least in the early Eighteenth Dynasty. Texts from a barque shrine of Hatshepsut indicate that "beauty" was a quality sought by Egyptians, in conjunction with "purity". The evolution of multifaceted pillars is taken as an example for how the design of building elements was improved upon based on aesthetic qualities alone. The number of faces of the pillar and the shape of the abacus was adjusted to make the pillar appear more harmonic, without regard to symbolic meaning or religious function. Einleitung Ägyptologen tendieren dazu, Bauwerke hauptsächlich als Träger von Bildern und Texten zu sehen. Historiker fragen zwar nach der Datierung von Gebäuden, Archäologen nach ihrer Nutzung, Bauforscher nach ihrer Konstruktion. Die ästhetischen Eigenschaften bleiben jedoch in der Regel weitgehend ausgeklammert. Die verbreitete Missachtung der ästhetischen Qualitäten der ägyptischen Architektur scheint dabei forschungsgeschichtlich bedingt zu sein. So wurde die Debatte, die Hermann Junker und Alexander Scharff zur Stilentwicklung in der ägyptischen Kunst und Architektur angestoßen hatten unglücklich geführt. 1 Als Reaktion stellte sich Herbert Ricke in seinen Bemerkungen zur ägyptischen Baukunst des Alten Reiches 1944 grundsätzlich gegen Fragen der Ästhetik in der ägyptischen Architektur. 2 Seither ist das Thema in der Ägyptologie weitgehend tabuisiert. 3 Dass bei der Untersuchung ägyptischer Denkmäler die Ästhetik dennoch ein legitimer und gar bedeutender Aspekt ist versucht der folgende kurze Beitrag zu zeigen. Zur Illustration werden Beispiele aus der Tempelarchitektur des Neuen Reiches auf Elephantine herangezogen. Stephan J. Seidlmayer ist eng mit der Erforschung der Insel Elephantine und ihrem Umland verbunden. Seit 1978 hat er hier gegraben, seit 2011 leitet er das Projekt. Wissenschaftlich ging es ihm dabei zuletzt unter anderem um die mediale Wirkung von Denkmälern und Inschriften. 4 Hierzu möchten die folgenden Überlegungen einen Beitrag leisten. Die Ästhetik von Bauwerken aus ägyptischer Sicht Gern wird behauptet, Ästhetik sei ein moderner Begriff, der auf Bauwerke fremder und vergangener Kulturen wie der ägyptischen nicht angewendet werden sollte. Tatsächlich wurde die Ästhetik (von griechisch αἴσθησις "Wahrnehmung") erst unter den Griechen zum Gegenstand eines theoretischen Diskurses, unter anderem bei Platon und Aristoteles. In der Neuzeit wurde die Ästhetik dann von Kant, Lessing und Herder zu einer philosophischen Disziplin entwickelt. Sind ästhetische Merkmale überhaupt ein legitimer Maßstab bei der Betrachtung vor-klassischer Architektur?

Madīnat az-Zahrāʾ was the capital of the 10th century Umayyad caliphate in al-Andalus and is toda... more Madīnat az-Zahrāʾ was the capital of the 10th century Umayyad caliphate in al-Andalus and is today one of the most important sites of Islamic culture in the west. A new project is dedicated to the investigation of the Plaza de Armas, the main public square of the caliphal city. The aim of the first season of field work was the investigation of the Great Portico, which delimits the Plaza de Armas in the west and forms the façade of the caliphal palace. The building history of the portico was clarified, as well as the reconstruction of the portico based on building elements found during the excavation of the portico in 1975. In addition, a geophysical survey was conducted in the area to the east of the Plaza de Armas, in order to study the eastern limit of the plaza. The dimension and structure of several buildings could be determined. In addition a geomagnetic survey was conducted in the garden area of the palace.

The site of the ancient town on Elephantine island, close to present-day Assuan, offers the nearl... more The site of the ancient town on Elephantine island, close to present-day Assuan, offers the nearly unique chance to explore the structures and functions of an Ancient Egyptian provincial settlement from its village origins in late prehistory to its role as an important administrative and cultic center in pharaonic and graeco-roman times even into late antiquity and the early middle ages. Work in 2012 and 2013 was centered on two main project complexes. The reconstruction of the decoration, cultic installations, and uses of the temple of Khnum resulted in new insights into the building history and the symbolic layout of this largest sanctuary on the island. A fresh start in the excavation of settlement areas, harnessing the full potential of archaeometric methodology, aims at achieving a full picture the ancient living experience in the town of Elephantine.

The Islamic country estate of ar-Rummānīya is located in the foothills of the Sierra Morena, some... more The Islamic country estate of ar-Rummānīya is located in the foothills of the Sierra Morena, some 10 km west of the city of Córdoba (Spain). The estate was erected in 965 CE by ad-Durrī "the Little", a finance minister of the caliph al-Hakam II. The building complex encompasses four terraces, three of which were designed as gardens. On the uppermost terrace stood a series of palatial buildings, including two halls and a large water basin. The aim of the last two seasons of excavation has been the investigation of the garden. Detailed information was gained on the irrigation system and the kinds of plants that grew here. Botanical studies provide evidence for the presence of olive trees, almonds, pomegranate, vine, myrtle and lavender as well as a range of herbs and flowers.

e-Forschungsberichte, Mar 29, 2017

The necropolis of Dahshur is characterised by the building projects of King Snofru (about 2600 BC... more The necropolis of Dahshur is characterised by the building projects of King Snofru (about 2600 BC). He created a ritual landscape by altering considerable parts of the natural landscape and by building two giant pyramids-the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid-several temples, cemeteries and settlements. In 2014 the magnetometric survey to the north and to the south of the valley temple of the Bent Pyramid was continued. Furthermore a so far unknown and unique element of landscape architecture was identified. Directly to the north of the valley temple of the Bent Pyramid a large garden which was enclosed by a massive mudbrick wall could be recorded. In spring 2015 magnetic surveys were undertaken in the area of the workmen's barracks in the vicinity of the Red Pyramid and the area of the so-called valley temple of the Bent Pyramid. Drill sondages in the valley to the east of the Bent Pyramid confirmed the existence of an eastern harbor wall. Drill sondages showed furthermore that a transport way of limestone blocks, which was used in the New Kingdom when the valley temple was dismantled, continues down the whole wadi. Like in the years before, several new relief e-Forschungsberichte des dai 2016 • Faszikel 3

Madīnat al-Zahrā' was founded in 940 AD near Córdoba, Spain as the capital of the Umayyad cal... more Madīnat al-Zahrā' was founded in 940 AD near Córdoba, Spain as the capital of the Umayyad caliphate. The aim of a five-year project of the German Archaeological Institute and the Junta de Andalucía is the investigation of the socalled Plaza de Armas, the central public square of the city. This season the eastern limit of the plaza was studied, providing new insight into the development of the plaza. Originally two separate building complexes stood across from each other, the palace of the caliph to the west and a second palace to the east, possibly inhabited by the crown prince. In a second phase a monumental plaza was constructed between the two existing buildings. Two porticos now faced each other across the plaza. This season a part of the eastern portico was excavated, including the central gate leading to the eastern palace. In 1010 AD the portico and the gate were destroyed by fire. From the destruction debris, elements of the gate were recovered, among them fragments of a...

Arts, 2018

Investigacion Y Ciencia, 2014

Agypten Und Levante Internationale Zeitschrift Fur Agyptische Archaologie Und Deren Nachbargebeite, 1995

Madrider Mitteilungen, 2003

The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1995

Cuadernos De Madinat Al Zahra Revista De Difusion Cientifica Del Conjunto Arqueologico Madinat Al Zahra, 2008

espanolEn el marco de la investigacion de las residencias rurales del entorno de Cordoba, el Inst... more espanolEn el marco de la investigacion de las residencias rurales del entorno de Cordoba, el Instituto Arqueologico Aleman de Madrid, en colaboracion con la Universidad Autonoma de Madrid y con el Conjunto Arqueologico de Madinat al-Zahra, esta documentando los restos arquitectonicos de al-Rummaniyya que aun se conservan. Se trata de una almunia, identificada como la residencia rural de al-Durri al-Sagir, un tesorero del califa al-Hakam II (961-976), siendo una de las mas grandes de este tipo conocidas. En 1910 fue excavada parcialmente por Ricardo Velazquez Bosco, y desde entonces no se habia vuelto a estudiar cientificamente. Situada al pie de Sierra Morena, a unos 10 km al oeste de Cordoba, la residencia consta de cuatro terrazas: tres de ellas configuradas como jardines y en la cuarta, en la superior, se situarian los edificios destinados a residencia y dependencias anejas para otros fines, ademas de una alberca de 30 x 50 m de longitud y 4 m de profundidad, que es la estructura conservada mas interesante desde el punto de vista arquitectonico. El perimetro de esta alberca estaba rodeado por una galeria que descansaba sobre cartelas. Directamente sobre el desague, en direccion al jardin, habia un gran salon con amplias arcadas que facilitaria la vista a la alberca, por un lado, y al jardin, por el otro. El abastecimiento de agua de la villa se resolvio de diversas maneras: un cauce de un arroyo que recogia el agua cuando habia fuertes lluvias, captacion de aguas subterraneas, una galeria de drenaje, asi como una canalizacion para conducir el agua desde las montanas hasta el area de la almunia. En las terrazas ajardinadas aun se conservan restos de una red de canales de riego. EnglishAs part of an investigation of the Islamic country estates surrounding the city of Cordoba, a joint mission of the German Archaeological Institute, the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and the Conjunto Arqueologico de Madinat al-Zahra is documenting the remains of al-Rummaniyya. The building complex was owned by al-Durri al-Saghir, one of the finance ministers of the caliph al-Hakam II (961-976), and was one of the largest of its kind. Partially excavated in 1910 by Ricardo Velazquez Bosco, the site has never been properly studied. Located at the foot of the Sierra Morena 10 km west of Cordoba, the estate comprises four terraces with a total area of 4.5 hectares. Three of the terraces were occupied by gardens, the fourth by living quarters, service areas and -as an architectural highlight- a 30 m wide, 50 m long and 4 m deep water basin. The basin was surrounded on all four sides by a walkway resting on consoles. Directly above the drain of the basin a large hall was built with wide arcades, which offered a view on one side across the gardens, on the other across the water basin. The water supply of the estate was secured by several means, among them a brook carrying water after strong rainfalls, a well chamber, an underground filtration gallery, and a canal bringing water from a spring higher up in the mountains. On the garden terraces remains of a regular network of irrigation channels have been found.

Melanges De La Casa De Velazquez Nouvelle Serie, Mar 1, 2010

Al describir los palacios islamicos de la Peninsula Iberica, los autores contemporaneos se deshac... more Al describir los palacios islamicos de la Peninsula Iberica, los autores contemporaneos se deshacian en elogios: hablaban de su tamano, de su lujosa decoracion, de jardines y de albercas. Hoy en dia, apenas quedan vestigios de esta arquitectura: la mayoria de las construcciones fueron destruidas por completo con el paso del tiempo o sometidas a profundas modificaciones. Por regla general, la arquitectura islamica profana solo se puede investigar con los recursos de la arqueologia. En los poco...

Burying the dead in houses is an age-old tradition in Egypt, irrespective of religion. The paper ... more Burying the dead in houses is an age-old tradition in Egypt, irrespective of religion. The paper traces this tradition through time, cultures and religions, as an example of how enduring certain burial customs can be, in spite of changes in religious beliefs about the after-life.