The History of the Fascinating Temple of Hatshepsut
This extraordinary and beautiful Temple of Hatshepsut is also known as “Djoser-Djeseru,” which was built for the queen of the 18th Dynasty, “Pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut.” It is one of the incomparable temples of ancient Egypt that is considered one of the most outstanding achievements of this civilization.
It is dedicated to Hatshepsut and Amon. The Egyptian monarch was obliged to honor his gods and pharaohs and immortalize their memory forever by building tombs and temples. Queen Hatshepsut was always aware of ways to raise her public image and immortalize her name; the Mortuary Temple achieved both ends. She was the daughter of a mighty god in Egypt, so she ruled as if she were a man. She headed for about two decades.
About the Reign of Queen Hatshepsut
Queen Hatshepsut was the daughter of King Thutmose I and his wife, Ahmose. Thutmose obtained her secondary marriage from Mutnofret, a son called “Thutmose II.” Following tradition, Hatshepsut married Thutmose II before she was 20 years old.
Queen Hatshepsut was elevated to the significant position of the wife of the god Amun, which is the highest title a woman can obtain in Egypt, giving her excellent political standing. Her husband died, and her son was still a child, so she managed the affairs of the state until she was crowned Pharaoh of Egypt. The period of her reign was the most peaceful and prosperous in the history of Egypt. She is noted for her successful business, economics, and many public works projects that provided jobs for workers across the country.
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The Location of the Temple of Hatshepsut
The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is located in Upper Egypt, below the “Deir El-Bahari” mountains, a name derived from the ancient monastery built during Coptic times, about 27 kilometers northwest of Luxor on the west bank of the river in the west of Thebes (the significant capital of Egypt during the new empire of Egypt). It is located next to the Mortuary Temple of Mentuhotep II. The temple marks the Valley of the Kings entrance, which you can visit during your luxurious tours of Egypt.
The Design of the Temple of Hatshepsut
Queen Hatshepsut gave the order to build this magnificent temple in 1479 BC. She made the temple to tell the story of her life, the construction of which took about fifteen years. The temple was designed by Hatshepsut’s organizer, “Senenmut,” who carefully created it based on the Temple of Mentuhotep II but made every aspect bigger. The temple has three levels, each containing a precisely designed colonnade.
At Ground Level;
There was a garden with exotic trees brought from Hatshepsut’s expeditions to the country of Punt, and unfortunately, this garden no longer exists. Behind the courtyard, there were columns with square shapes. There are scenes including Thutmose III dancing in front of Amun and some scenes depicting the marshes of Lower Egypt. You can ascend a stepped ramp to take you to the second level.
The Second Level;
There were two pools and sphinxes, which lined the path to another ramp. This level contains one of the first pictorial documentation of a commercial expedition. There is also a shrine dedicated to the Goddess Hathor, who is depicted as the face of a woman with the ears of a cow clutching a musical instrument.
The birth arcade is located on the right side of the ramp and tells the story of the creation of Hatshepsut with Amun. Punt’s arcade is on the left side of the ramp and reveals his glorious expedition to the mysterious “Land of the Gods,” which the Egyptians had not visited for centuries. There is also the Chapel of Hathor, which contains a hypostyle hall with twelve beautiful columns with Hathor’s head as capitals, and the Chapel of Anubis,
The Third Level;
It houses an entrance with double rows of columns facing the front. All images of Queen Hatshepsut have been destroyed and replaced with images of King Tuthmosis III. There is also the sanctuary of Amun, which is located behind the courtyard. It was rebuilt during the Ptolemaic period and rededicated to Imhotep.
The Historical Influence of the Temple of Hatshepsut
This fabulous temple is considered the closest to the history of ancient Egypt. It aggrandizes the pharaoh and includes shrines to honor gods relevant to his afterlife. The construction of this temple is reflected in the following temples of the new empire.
What to see in the Temple of Hatshepsut?
Although some elements of this magnificent historical structure were damaged by vandalism, many travelers during their tour packages to Egypt mentioned that this site is well preserved and deserves to be visited. This fantastic temple rises on three huge terraces connected by ramps.
It is open daily from 6 am to 5 pm. A bazaar (or market with various products) is just outside the temple entrance. Inside this unique temple, you can see the Colonnade of Birth and the Colonnade of Punt, the Chapel of Hathor, the Chapel of Anubis, and the Sanctuary of Amun.
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