The Sinai of Seti I

2018 ◽  
pp. 109-128
Keyword(s):  
Seti I

Champollion in the Tomb of Seti I: an Unpublished Letter

1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (131-132) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Ronald T. Ridley
Keyword(s):  
Unpublished Letter ◽  
Seti I

scholarly journals Soot removal from ancient Egyptian complex painted surfaces using a double network gel: Empirical tests on the ceiling of the sanctuary of Osiris in the temple of Seti I – Abydos

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehab Awad Al-Emam ◽  
Abdel Ghafour Motawea ◽  
Joost Caen ◽  
Koen Janssens
Keyword(s):  
Self Healing ◽  
Wall Paintings ◽  
Shape Stability ◽  
Double Network ◽  
Ancient Egyptian ◽  
Third Phase ◽  
Digital Microscope ◽  
Seti I ◽  
The Temple

Abstract In this study, we evaluated the ease of removal of soot layers from ancient wall paintings by employing double network gels as a controllable cleaning method. The ceiling of the temple of Seti I (Abydos, Egypt) is covered with thick layers of soot; this is especially the case in the sanctuary of Osiris. These layers may have been accumulated during the occupation of the temple by Christians, fleeing the Romans in the first centuries A.D.. Soot particulates are one of the most common deposits to be removed during conservation-restoration activities of (Egyptian) wall paintings. They usually mask the painted reliefs and reduce the permeability of the painted surface. A Polyvinyl alcohol-borax/agarose (PVA-B/AG) double network gel was selected for this task since its properties were expected to be compatible with the cleaning treatment requirements. The gel is characterized by its flexibility, permitting to take the shape of the reliefs, while also having self-healing properties, featuring shape stability and an appropriate capacity to retain liquid. The gel was loaded with several cleaning reagents that proved to be effective for soot removal. Two sets of soot removal tests were conducted with these gel composites. The cleaned surfaces were examined in situ with the naked eye and with a digital microscope in order to select the best gel composite. The gel composite, loaded with a solution of 5% ammonia, 0.3% ammonium carbonate, and 0.3% EDTA yielded the most satisfactory results and allowed to safely remove a crust of thick soot particles from the surface. Thus, during a third phase of the study, it was used successfully to clean a larger area of the ceiling.

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