Iconographic topos of the Ramesside Epoch:: frame of the ithyphallic god

Like in the literature, topoi can be recognized in the iconography of the temples. This paper examines one of them. It is caracterized by a specific structure, the encadrement, that emphasizes an ithyphallic god (accompagnied or not by a goddess) and by two specific themes, the legitimation of the king and/or theological speculation on the gods of the Theban triad. The examples of this topos are especially concentrated under the reign of Ramesses II, but an example taking place in the Ramesses HI's Great Temple of Medinet Habu shows that it has been in favour for almost all the Ramesside period. Moreover, the mastership with which the Egyptian image-makers have employed it in this temple makes of it a masterpiece of the iconography of the Ramesside temples.