KURNAH, kiTena, or GURNAH. An Egyp tian village on the west bank of the Nile, oppo site Karnak, in about latitude 50' N. In the vicinity stands the temple built by Seti I. in honor of Ammon of Thebes and of Seti's father, Mimeses I. Some of the reliefs and inscriptions were added, after the death of Seti, by his son, Rameses 11. Originally the temple was ap proached through two successive courts. but only traces of these are left. A portico. its roof sup ported by eight lofty columns, forms the facade of the temple. The rear wall of the portico is covered with reliefs and is pierced by three doors. The central door gives access to a hypostyle hall with six sculptured columns, into which three chambers open on either side. The walls of the hall and of the chamber are adorned with reliefs representing Seti 1. and Rameses I1. A door at the upper end of the hall leads to the sanctuary, on the walls of which Seti I. is depicted offering incense before the sacred rain of Ammon. The sanctuary contains four square pillars, and is flanked by several chambers. The door on the right of the portico leads to the hall of.Rameses
II., which originally contained ten columns. but only traces of them remain. Several chambers to the rear of this hall are in a ruinous condi tion. The door on the left of the portico gives entrance to a vestibule (with two columns), into which open three chambers, of which the walls are richly decorated with reliefs. A door to the left of the vestibule, near the entrance, opens upon a narrow corridor leading to several rooms in the rear of the building. One of the rooms contains reliefs executed in the time of Rameses II.; the rest are in ruins. Not far from Kur nah is the cemetery about Drab Abn-l-Nigga, one of the oldest cemeteries about Thebes. It was explored by Mariette, whose excavations in this place enriched the Egyptian National Museum with many valuable antiquities. Consult: De scription de l'Eyypte (Paris, 1809-29) ; Slariette, Voyage dans la Haute-Egypte (2d ed., Paris, 1893) ; Wilkinson, Topography of Thebes (Lon don, 1835). See also THEBES.