Second court of the royal mortuary temple of Ramses III, Medinet Habu, Egypt

"The temple of Medinet Habu has two courts with a combination of papyrus columns and statue pillars. The rear hall of the court rises on a flat platform articulated by a cavetto. Broad, high pylons precede in front and, with their huge wall planes, clearly seal the sacred interior from the outside world." [Arnold D., 1999: Temples of the Last Pharaohs. Oxford University Press]. "The large Osiride statues of the second court were ruthlessly destroyed in the early Christian era by the Copts, who converted the area into a Christian church." [Wilkinson R., 2000: The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt. Thames and Hudson]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from January 8, 1947 to end of June 1947.