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Red granite column from Ihnsaya el-Medina (ancient Herakleopolis Magna) A column such as this would have originally stood in the pillared hall, known as a hypostyle hall, of a temple. This column was re-used in a temple constructed at Ihnasya el-Medina in the north of Egypt during the reign of Ramesses II (1279-1213 BC). It originally came from a much earlier temple, dating perhaps as far as back as the 5th Dynasty (2494-2345 BC). It is decorated with representations of Ramesses II offering incense to a ram-headed god called Herishef. Above the offering scene are the names of Ramesses II written vertically. Below the offering scene are the names of Ramesses II, and his successor, Merenptah, also written vertically. The top of the column, known as the capital, is missing. It would have taken the form of palm fronds, or leaves. The original height of the column was 10 cubits, and its diameter is 1.5 cubits. A cubit is around 45 cm.