karnak

 

There are only three registers that are visible today. The two lower registers begin at the western edge with acts of conquest, after which the king begins his return journey home as the scenes move toward the temple entrance, where he presents his defeated enemies to Amun. On each side of the doorway the scenes expand in height so that they take up the first two registers, and represent the "ritual massacre of the vanquished". At the east end of the southern wall is carved the narration of the Battle of Kadesh in a long text of vertical columns below a large scene in which the king and the princes are bringing a bound group of prisoners
 before Amun.

In addition to the reliefs concerning the Battle of Kadesh, there is also, on the wall protruding from the exterior southern wall of the Hypostyle hall, reliefs that depict the surrender of the fortress of Askalon. This was a city about ten miles north of Gaza and about 40 miles south of Joppa. This scene depicts the pharaoh's soldiers staving in the doors of the fortress with axes, while others scale it by means of ladders. Also, on a nearby hill, Egyptian soldiers are exterminating the fleeing enemy.

Northern Wall
This wall, divided by a doorway, depicts combat at both of its extremes, and then converge toward the center doorway with the king's victorious return to the temple of Amun.

The southern exterior wall of the Hypostyle hall  records several military campaigns of Set I into the Levant, as well as one battle with the Libyans in the west.
 we see scenes depicting the taking of the fortress of Pekanan. They begin with the king's departure from Raphia (now Rafah or Rafiah) for the desert road. This is followed by the Bedouin's ambush and scenes depicting the waterholes along the desert path. The next scene heading west depicts return of Seti I to the Egyptian boarder, followed by the offering of booty to Amun. Beyond this and next to the doorway is a scene, taking up both upper and lower registers, depicting the ritual massacre of the vanquished.
 the wall scenes on the eastern facade of the wall depict the "new version of the great chieftains of Lebanon". depicts the capture of Yamoam, followed by the binding of the vanquished. Next comes a scene showing the capturing of prisoners, followed by the offering of booty to the Theban triad.
On the western half of the northern wall, the lowest of three registers on the western end, begin by depicts an archery battle against the Kheta (Hittites), followed by the return to Egypt with Khetan captives. Further east we find the offering of booty to the gods, Amun, Sekhmet-Mut, Khonsu and Ma'at. This in turn is followed by another portrayal next to the doorway, two registers high, of the ritual massacre of the prisoners before Amun, which mirrors that on the western half of the doorway.

 

  scenes, represent  javelin combat against the Libyans. This is followed by the return to Egypt with Libyan captives, and the offering of booty to the Theban triad.
 scenes with archery combat at Kadesh, the land of Amor. Finally, above the scene depicting the ritual slaughter of the vanquished ,another scene depicting tribute that is being presented to this temple.
In this final scene of slaughter, the king wears the red crown of the North, and holds a dozen prisoners tied together by their hair. The king holds them secure with his right hand, while with his left he brandishes the white hedj club. Before him stands the god Amun, presenting the harpagon in his right hand while in his left holding the key of life and the bonds of the prisoners with the escutcheons representing the conquered towns. Amun speaks the words:
O my son of my body...
I bring to thee the chiefs of the southern countries...
(I turn) my face to the north, I work a wonder (for thee), snaring the rebels in their nests...
I turn my face to the east, I work a wonder for thee,
I bind them all for thee, gathered in thy grasp...
I turn my face to the west, I work a wonder for thee,
consuming for thee every land of Tehenu...
I turn my face to heaven, I work a wonder for thee....The gods of the horizon of heaven acclaim to thee when Ra is born every morning...
I turn my face to the earth, (I work a wonder for thee, I appoint for thee victories in every country).
on the upper register the king has removed his warrior attribute and is now clad in a triangular apron and wears upon his forehead a diadem. Here, he offers the sacred lettuce to Amun-Re, here the ithyphallic prince of Thebes, who is followed by Isis.
Below, on the lower register, the king is clad in a long linen robe and presents bouquets of lotus flowers to Amun, who walks before Ptah. These sunk reliefs were completed by Ramesses II. On the door splay, the king wears the blue war helmet and is depicted as he enters the doorway with the key of life in his left hand and his right hand extended towards Amun. This carving has been reworked on several occasions.