Karnak (Thèbes), Palais - Salle Hypostyle - Décoration de la Paroi Intérieure au Point L 1851 - 1852

Félix Teynard made this photograph titled, "Karnak (Thèbes), Palais - Salle Hypostyle - Décoration de la Paroi Intérieure au Point L" using the Calotype process during his travels in Egypt between 1851-1852. This image represents the interior wall of the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, likely built during the New Kingdom period. The relief carvings, or hieroglyphs, narrate religious stories and legitimize the Pharaoh’s divine authority. Photography in the mid-19th century played a role in the European colonial project in Egypt. As Egyptology became more prevalent in Europe, images such as this one offered Europeans a glimpse into the distant past and also aided in the archaeological analysis of the sites. Historians examine these photos alongside ancient texts, archaeological reports, and political records. It is through that context that the photograph becomes more than just a view of a carved wall, but rather a historical record of a particular point of view about Ancient Egypt.