In what city is the temple of Hatshepsut located? Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor - mortuary temple of the queen in Deir el-Bahri
In the Arab Republic of Egypt, in the town of Deir el-Bahri, there is a famous mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh from the 18th dynasty who reigned from 1525-1503. BC e. Its architecture, history and appearance are as unusual as its very appearance among the rulers Ancient Egypt female rulers. Over the three thousand years of Egyptian history, there were three more female pharaohs, in addition to Hatshepsut: Tetisheri, Ahho-tep II, Ahmose-Nefertari. But Hatshepsut turned out to be the most talented and famous among them.
The daughter of Thutmose I and Queen Ahmes, Hatshepsut was the half-sister and great wife of Thutmose II. This king did not reign long and died, leaving behind an heir, Thutmose III, his son by one of his younger wives. At the time of his father's death, Thutmose III was too young, and Hatshepsut was appointed regent. However, she soon proclaimed herself the sole and rightful ruler of Egypt, taking the title Djeser-Djeseru - the Greatest of the Greatest. The 15 years of Hatshepsut's reign became one of the brightest pages in the history of the 18th dynasty. During her reign, victorious military campaigns were conducted in Asia and Nubia; in the ninth year of her reign, she carried out an expedition to Punt (land East Africa) behind the red tree. The real monument of her era is the tomb in Deir el-Bahri.
The great construction of the temple began around 1518 BC. e. and lasted almost 15 years. The temple was erected under the leadership of the outstanding architect priest Senenmut, the Supreme Manager of Amon, the favorite and court architect of Hatshepsut. The choice of location was also successful. The temple was located in a valley that had been considered sacred for more than five centuries and was dedicated to Isis, the divine wife of Osiris, who ruled the underworld. Not far from it, but on the other side of the mountain, in the Valley of the Kings, they built a tomb for Hatshepsut.
The original construction of Senenmut has no analogues in ancient Egyptian architecture. Instead of the traditional massive pylons and gloomy, shadowed halls, there are three open terraces rising above each other along the mountainside. These terraces served as burial places for the priests of Amun. From the tomb began the Processional Road, framed by two rows of sphinxes. It flowed into the first courtyard, bounded on the west by a portico with 22 columns, and on the sides by two colossal statues of the queen. Now this place is called the Portico of the Obelisks, because its bas-reliefs illustrated the transportation of two tall granite obelisks from Aswan and their erection at the Temple of Karnak. In the northern part there was a portico of the Hunt, decorated with scenes of ritual hunting and fishing.
On either side of the porticos there are small shrines to the god Anubis and the goddess Hathor. Both consist of 12-column halls located on the terrace and interior spaces going deep into the rock massif. The columns of the sanctuary of Hathor are decorated with capitals in the form of the face of the goddess, and on the walls there is a seated figure of the queen's husband Thutmose II, whose hand is licked by a cow - the sacred animal of Hathor.
From the outer courtyard, an inclined ramp led to the roof of the first colonnade. It was also a courtyard. Further, another staircase led to the roof of the second colonnade. In its depths there was a sanctuary of the god Amun. From the first courtyard to the second and to the upper terrace there were two successive ramps, limited on the west by porticos. The railing of the ramp connecting the second and third terraces of the temple was decorated with images of a giant cobra, whose tail rose up the railing. Above the head of the snake, which personified the patroness of Lower Egypt, the goddess Wadjet, is an image of Horus of Bekhdet, the deity of Upper Egypt.
The composition of the southern portico of the second tier told about the expedition to the kingdom of Punt, which glorified the queen. Artists captured the Egyptian fleet, the landscape features of East Africa with forests of incense trees. King and Queen Punta are also represented here, bringing gifts to Hatshepsut: precious wood, incense, ointments, animal skins, gold and slaves.
Having removed Thutmose III from the reign, Hatshepsut could not help but once again emphasize her sacred right to power. Therefore, the main subject of the reliefs of the northern portico was the story of the divine birth of Hatshepsut. According to the official legend, recorded in the paintings, the great Theban god Amon took the form of Hatshepsut's earthly father, Thutmose I, and entered the chambers of her mother Ahmes. This composition ends with the scene of the divine birth of the ruler.
Hatshepsut was never able to overcome the tradition according to which only a man could be pharaoh. This was evident in the iconography of the queen, who was depicted in male attire and with a false beard. Each of the columns of the porticos is decorated with a statue of the queen in the image of Osiris with a long beard, in a white robe and with her arms crossed on her chest, in which she holds the royal scepters.
The creator of the temple, Senenmut, could not resist glorifying his name. His images are found in Deir el-Bahri, however, apparently, their appearance was secret: located near doorways, they were always hidden by a swinging door. In addition, on the territory of the first terrace, Senenmut began building a tomb for himself, so that even after death he would be closer to his own creation. Scientists do not know the reason why Senenmut fell into disgrace by the end of his work. The architect's tomb remained unfinished, and all his names on the walls were carefully destroyed.
The creation created by the architect even now seems to be a model of perfection, the personification of the eternal canons of beauty. However, Senenmut only developed the ideas of his predecessors. Thus, to the left of the Temple of Hatshepsut, the ruins of the funeral complex of Pharaoh Mentuhotep II (2055-2004 BC) were discovered: this structure had a similar architecture.
In Greco-Roman times, in the sanctuary of Deir el-Bahri, images of the great sages and healers Imhotep and Amenhotep, the son of Xapu, were carved next to the images of Amun. The hope of getting rid of diseases and faith in the sanctity of this place brought many people here. The walls of the temple to this day keep ancient inscriptions with requests for help.
During the period of early Christianity, the temple of Hatshepsut became the Coptic church, and later, around the 7th century. fell into disrepair and completely collapsed.
In 1891, the Englishman Naville excavated it and was the first to begin developing plans for reconstruction. Later, the excavations were continued by famous Egyptologists Winlock and Barez. Many fragments of sculpture and reliefs ended up outside Egypt.
In 1961, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser instructed restorers from the Polish national center Mediterranean archeology restoration of the temple of Hatshepsut. Year after year, scientists collected information bit by bit and recreated reliefs, statues, and architectural elements. By the beginning of the 70s. XX century this painstaking work returned the monument to its original appearance.
Hatshepsut's glory was short-lived, shortly after its completion in 1503 BC. e., her name disappears from the pages Egyptian history. Whether natural death or a palace coup was the reason remains a mystery. Thutmose III, who came to power, ordered the chronicles to be rewritten, the queen’s name was replaced with his own or the names of his predecessors. All the deeds and monuments of the queen were henceforth attributed to him personally. Nevertheless, her temple was still the most important cult center in Egypt.
Ancient Egypt. The reign of the XVIII dynasty of the pharaohs. By order of Pharaoh Thutmose III, inscriptions from the walls are violently knocked down, all evidence and references to the reign of Pharaoh Hatshepsut are destroyed. But why? Because this is a woman who proclaimed herself a pharaoh, wearing men's clothing and a false beard. It was unthinkable, but it happened. And she ruled for 23 years. And quite successfully. Her name is associated with many innovations, events, and, of course, many magnificent architectural monuments. Majestic famous obelisks, the stunningly beautiful temple in Deir el-Bahri, a number of buildings in Karnak. Truly an incredible woman who was able to achieve success against all odds!
But in order for the story about Hatshepsut to become more complete and understandable, we should go back a little in time in order to better understand the difficult period during which the queen ruled and what influenced her.
Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri
The period between the Middle and New Kingdoms turned out to be extremely difficult. Egypt was captured by the Hyksos. This led not only to political but also economic decline. The country again began to fall apart into separate nomes. There was no strength left for art; during this period everything comes to depersonalization and loss of individuality. Everything that was achieved by Senusret III and Amenemhet III is lost in the past. Old faceless canons appear on the stage. The reason for this was the lack of funds. There was nothing left to build architectural monuments and maintain art workshops. Therefore, both knowledge and skills were gradually lost. The Hyksos kings accepted the traditions of the Egyptians and preserved their culture, but still their works were very different from the Egyptian ones. The occupation lasted about 200 years. Liberation from the Hyksos began in Thebes. And nothing could stop the Egyptians in the fight for their lands and freedom. And after failures, the death of the pharaohs on the battlefields, the Egyptians completely liberated the Nile Valley and even, pursuing enemies outside their homeland, invaded Syria.
After liberation, it was in Thebes that art began to revive, under the reign of the 17th dynasty of pharaohs. And during this period some changes were made. In the art of weapons, something from the Hyksos was added, and with the development of trade, new trends came from Syria and Crete. In other areas, which did not have such close contact with the Hyksos or trade with other countries, the old traditions continue in full force. But everything related to monumental architecture continued the traditions of the Old Kingdom; it was an indicator of the continuity of the new dynasty to the previous one.
And one of the most interesting periods in the history of Egypt begins with the completion of victories over the Hyksos under the leadership of Ahmes I. The country achieves simply incredible power. After the capture of the capital of the Hyksos, Avaris, campaigns against Asia begin. Ahmes I fought in Syria, his son Amenhotep I reached the Euphrates, and Thutmose I already considers the Euphrates to be his northern border. And looking ahead a little, the campaigns of Thutmose III cemented Egypt’s role as a world power for a long time. And on this wave, chronicles and autobiographies of great figures appear. One of the most famous chroniclers of the annals was Januni, who accompanied Thutmose III on all his military campaigns. He made very vivid descriptions of all victories.
Changes in Egypt also affected religious views. The new political situation in Egypt also required one national main god, who became the Theban god Amun. After all, it was Thebes that advocated the unification of the country and was the capital of the victors. To give Amon an aura of antiquity, he was merged with the solar god Ra. God was given the appearance of a pharaoh. This is how the “king of all gods” appeared - Amon Ra. It was during this period that the most active construction began in Ancient Egypt - the construction of the Karnak Temple, which I already wrote about separately. The most prominent and talented architect was Ineni; the rise of architecture and the emergence of a whole school of talented architects began with him. Ineni himself built under five pharaohs. Under Thutmose I, Ineni was appointed chief architect at Karnak.
Sanctuary of Hatshepsut at Karnak
After the reign of Thutmose I, the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, the daughter of Thutmose I, was on the royal throne. During his lifetime, Hatshepsut was given in marriage to her half-brother Thutmose II.
Birth of Hatshepsut.
Queen Ahmose, mother of Hatshepsut, is led to the birthplace
But he was very weak and sickly, so he died early, leaving Hatshepsut with two daughters. She, of course, was of royal blood and, if she had been a man, would have taken the throne. But she is a woman and this was unacceptable. And Thutmose II also had a son from a concubine of a non-royal family, and was the only boy of all possible heirs. As a child, he was betrothed to his half-sister and declared pharaoh, but Hatshepsut was appointed regent.
Hatshepsut and Thutmose III
This practice was common among royal families over the centuries and in many countries. And time was counted from the beginning of the reign of Thutmose III and in all images he is shown as a pharaoh, and behind him Hatshepsut was depicted with the attributes of a simple queen. But having achieved the favor and veneration of the priests, the love of the people, thanks to his wise rule, Hatshepsut independently ascends to the throne.
Hatshepsut. Drawing.
But not all the priests supported her in this and believed that she had seized the throne. But the number of adherents was high, both among those who had served her father and among younger ones. And this helped the queen become the true pharaoh of Egypt. Hatshepsut began to be portrayed as a full-fledged and sole pharaoh, albeit in male form. This story is about a woman who is capable of changing legislation and the rule of several dozen dynasties. About a woman who boldly declared her right to the throne and was capable of not only becoming one of the first female pharaohs, but also managing to achieve considerable success, especially in the field of construction. After all, it was under Hatshepsut that the most beautiful obelisks of incredible size were erected, and massive changes were made to the Karnak Temple.
Obelisk of Hatshepsut at Karnak
And, of course, one of the most magnificent temples of Ancient Egypt is the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Kings.
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
This woman deserves admiration even after 35 centuries. She did something incredible, even by today's standards. Defend the right to the throne in a world where it was unheard of, and hold out until your very last days.
Let's start with the obelisks. Their height exceeded the height of the obelisks built by her father and was equal to 30.7 m. All manufacturing and installation work took about 7 months. The inscription on the obelisk reads: “She made them as a monument to her father Amun, lord of Thebes, head of Karnak, erecting for him two great obelisks of eternal southern granite with tops from the best electra of all countries, which are visible on both banks of the Nile. Their rays flood Egypt when the sun rises between them, when it rises on the heavenly horizon.” The obelisks were installed in the northern part of one of the halls of the Karnak Temple, which had to be dismantled. But I think Hatshepsut did it with pleasure, because once upon a time it was in this hall that some of the courtiers chose Thutmose III as the only successor to the throne. While Hatshepsut herself was a legitimate queen on both her father’s and mother’s sides.
Obelisks of Hatshepsut. Photos taken from the Isis Project website
Fallen Obelisk
The names of several architects are associated with the monuments built under Hatshepsut - Hapuseneb, Senmut, Puimra, Amenhotep and Thuti. Puimra and Amenhotep supervised the production and installation of obelisks in the temple of Amun Ra. Hapuseneb was apparently already advanced in age when Hatshepsut came to power. He was from a noble priestly family and was therefore chosen for the position of high priest and chief architect. He led the construction of all the most important monuments during the early reign of the queen. Subsequently, all outstanding monuments are associated with the name of Senmut, the closest person to Hatshepsut. Despite his humble origins, he achieved incredible heights and became one of the most influential people in Egypt. Senmut was involved in the education of the queen, the heir of Nefrur, was the keeper of the seal, the head of the palace, the treasury, the house of Amon, the granaries of Amon, “all the works of Amon” and “all the works of the king.”
Senmut with daughter Hatshepsut
Senmut with daughter Hatshepsut
There is an assumption that Senmut and Hatshepsut were lovers. Senmut himself characterizes his position in the following words: “I was the greatest of the greats in the whole country. I was the keeper of the king's secrets in all his palaces, a private adviser at the right hand of the ruler; constant in favor and one having audiences, loving truth, impartial, one whom judges listened to and whose silence was eloquent. I was the one on whose words his master relied, whose advice the Lady of the Two Lands was satisfied, and the heart of the god’s wife was full. I was a nobleman who was listened to, for I conveyed the king’s word to his retinue. I was the one whose steps were known in the palace, the true adviser to the ruler, entering in love and leaving in mercy, gladdening the heart of the ruler daily. I was useful to the king, faithful to God and blameless before the people. I was the one who was entrusted with the flood, so that I could direct the Nile; to whom the affairs of the Two Lands were entrusted. Everything that the South and North brought was under my seal, the work of all countries was under my jurisdiction. I had access to all the writings of the prophets and there was nothing from the beginning of time that I did not know.”
Image of Senmut
Senmut enjoyed enormous power, so he had very good opportunities to realize all his creative ideas. In Egypt, there was such a practice - the architect erected his statue near the objects he built. From here we can judge what was built by Senmut.
Unfortunately, many of the buildings of Senmut have not reached us and we cannot judge them fully. But on the other hand, one of the greatest creations of Ancient Egypt has reached us - the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahri, which screams about the genius of the architect who created it. And on the other hand, it makes us regret that other works of this talented architect have not reached us.
Reconstruction of the temple
Reconstruction of the temple complex. Temple of Hatshepsut, Mentuhotep II and Thutmose III
Hatshepsut built a lot in Karnak, but later Thutmose III destroyed all her inscriptions or replaced them with the names of his father Thutmose II, who was generally completely faceless.
Image in the Karnak Temple. Amon - Ra crowns Hatshepsut
Also at Karnak, Thutmose III built a temple to Amun so as to completely cover the buildings of Hatshepsut. He erased all her names from the pylons and everything began to look like his father had built it. But, despite all his efforts, the world still knows about the great woman - Pharaoh Hatshepsut.
Reliefs of Hatshepsut destroyed by Thutmose III 
Images of Thutmose II, father of Thutmose III
The name of Thutmose II in the Temple of Hatshepsut.
Mortuary temples played an important place in the architecture of the New Kingdom. A major change was the separation of the temple from the tomb itself. The temples were built on the border between the desert and fertile land, and the tombs themselves were built in rock gorges. Of the surviving such temples, the temple of Amenhotep I and Queen Nefertiri is known. To the south of it stood a temple - a prayer house, from which there was a road to Deir el-Bahri, to the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut. To the south stood the temples of Thutmose III, Amenhotep II, Thutmose IV and Amenhotep III. Thus, the mortuary temples of the Eighteenth Dynasty were located from north to south in the order in which the pharaohs ruled and lived.
On the right in the photo is the Temple of Hatshepsut
On the left is a complex of mortuary temples
Road from the Temple of Hatshepsut
It is not for nothing that Ineni is considered a great architect, because it was he who came up with the idea of a new layout for the royal burials. He talks about the construction of the royal tomb in his autobiographical inscription: “I alone watched as the rock tomb of His Majesty was carved out and no one saw and no one heard... I stayed awake in search of what was excellent. This was the kind of work that our ancestors did not do.” Most likely, this refers to the construction of the temple of Amenhotep I. But although the temples received a new appearance, the layout remained the same, because it was necessary for rituals and the premises had to correspond to them. At first, the rock tombs were small and decorated modestly. But gradually the size increased, the corridors lengthened, the halls became larger, and the number of utility rooms also increased. Architectural design also developed. The number of columns and their location began to depend on the size. And now in the tomb of Hatshepsut there are already 3 columns in the burial hall and one in the room in front of the burial hall.
Mortuary temples gradually became monumental structures with long avenues of sphinxes, massive pylons and statues of pharaohs standing in front of them. But due to the fact that much has not been preserved or has come to us in an already poor condition, we cannot analyze everything in detail. The temple of Amenhotep III, which has not survived, is especially upsetting. Judging by its remains, it was a magnificent structure. What remains from it are the sphinxes located in the alleys, and the colossal royal statues that once stood in front of the pylon, and now tower alone in the middle of the plain.
Statues of Amenhotep III, known as the Colossi of Memnon
But, of course, of all that has survived, the temple of Hatshepsut stands out. This temple had a special design. It was built next to the famous sanctuary of Mentuhotep II, and it was built according to his model. Mentuhotep was especially revered by the Egyptians, because it was with him that the Theban dynasty of pharaohs began, his temple was a family sanctuary.
Temple of Hatshepsut. Nearby is the ruined temple of Mentuhotep II.
And next to such a place Hatshepsut erects his temple, thereby emphasizing his belonging to the dynasty and the right to occupy the throne of Egypt, once conquered by Mentuhotep. This was to strengthen their position on the throne, where women were not allowed to enter. And this was so unusual for Ancient Egypt that the famous explorer Jean-Francois Champollion, the first person to decipher Egyptian writing, was confused. In the temple of Hatshepsut, he saw two names side by side - Thutmose III and Hatshepsut. The two of them were depicted as men - in men's clothing, with a beard and with the attributes of the power of a pharaoh. But the main catch was that everything about Pharaoh Hatshepsut was written in the feminine gender. Champollion was confused and could not understand what was going on. They portray a man, but write as a woman. And only later, thanks to research, archaeologists found out that this was a female pharaoh. She dared to claim the throne. After all, of all the children, only she outlived her father. Therefore, the temple that she erected spoke to everyone around about her greatness and power. That she is a worthy successor to her father Thutmose I.
The temple also became the largest among all the temples built before it. Hatshepsut built it high in the mountains and was connected by a long road to the prayer house located in the valley. Along this road there were sphinxes with the head of Hatshepsut.
Sphinx Hatshepsut
The southern wall of the large courtyard in front of the temple was decorated with pilasters with alternating images of a falcon in a double crown and a uraeus. Below were carved the names of Hatshepsut and schematic images of the facade of the palace. The western side of the courtyard was occupied by a portico with two rows of columns - twenty-two in each. The columns of the first row at the front were decorated in the same way as the pilasters of the south wall. On the inside, the columns had eight sides, like the proto-Doric columns of the second row. Above the architrave there was a cornice with a balustrade and drains for water.
Protodoric columns
From the south and north, the portico was decorated with statues of Hatshepsut in the image of the god Osiris and reached 8 meters in height.
There were various painted reliefs on the walls of the portico. The Egyptians depicted how they brought obelisks and presented them to the god Amun, how they brought captives from Nubia, a parade of warriors and various cult scenes. On the walls on the other side was Hatshepsut herself in the form of a sphinx, defeating enemies and making sacrifices to Amun. The portico is divided in the middle by a large monumental staircase that leads to the first terrace of the temple. Trees grew on both sides of the stairs, and nearby there were ponds with thickets of papyrus. From the very gate to the stairs there were two sphinxes every 10 meters. The figures of lions on the side walls seemed to be guarding the entrance. The second courtyard, on the lower terrace on the north side, was not completed. The unfinished colonnade remained there. On the western side, the courtyard was closed by a portico with two rows of tetrahedral columns, separated by a staircase leading to the second terrace. Here the walls are decorated with the most famous reliefs - the coronation of Hatshepsut, her birth by mother Ahmes from Amun himself. In the southern part, an expedition to Punt, from where incense and exotic animals were brought.
Porticoes of the temple
Wall reliefs of the Temple of Hatshepsut
Sacrificial animals
Hatshepsut's march to Punt
Khnum and Hekate lead the pregnant Queen Ahmose, Hatshepsut's mother, to the birthplace
On both sides of the portico of the lower terrace there were prayer houses for the god Anubis and the goddess Hathor. The right chapel, carved into the rock, consisted of a hall with 12 fluted columns, behind which was the sanctuary of Anubis. The sanctuary of Hathor was large. The first hall had 32 columns with capitals in the form of Hathor's head. Behind this hall there was a small hall with two columns, from which side doors led into niches, and the middle door into a sanctuary of two rooms.
Sanctuary of Anubis
Sanctuary of Hathor. Top view.
Sanctuary of Hathor
The staircase was decorated very interestingly. At the bottom of the railing were cobras whose tails snaked up the railing. On the back of each snake sat a falcon. This was a tandem of the gods of northern Egypt, the cobra Buto, and the god of northern Egypt, the falcon Behudti, which symbolized the unity of the entire country. In front of the stairs were sphinxes made of red Aswan granite.
Falcon Behudti
The layout of the upper terrace was more complex. This entire part of the temple was intended for performing main rites, and therefore it was accessible only to a narrow circle of people. This explains the peculiar design of the terrace portico, in front of which stood the Osiric statues of Hatshepsut. These 5.5 meter statues are visible even from afar. The main part of the terrace is surrounded on all sides by a colonnade, and entry into it was through a massive granite door. There are chapels adjacent to the terrace on the southern and northern sides. One of the southern chapels is dedicated to the cult of Hatshepsut's father, Thutmose I. In other chapels there were images of processions of priests, and there was an altar along which you had to climb steps.
Temple pylon
Temple pylon
10 large and 8 small niches were carved into the depths of the central terrace. In the large ones there were Osirian statues of the queen, 3.35 m high. Small niches were closed with doors, and on their walls they depicted Hatshepsut in front of the sacrificial table. In the middle of the wall was the main chapel, which contained a marble statue of Hatshepsut.
Entrance to the sanctuary. On the walls are niches with Osiric statues of Hatshepsut
Entrance to the sanctuary
Thus, the temple of Hatshepsut was a monument of grand scale and superbly decorated, striking in its severity and geometric lines and shapes. The façade solution was constructed by alternating the horizontals of the terraces with the verticals of the colonnades. The inclined planes of the stairs perfectly connect these horizontal and vertical lines into one whole, and if you consider that the road smoothly flows into the stairs, you get the impression of rising up. And the entire monumental monument looks light and slender.
Despite the similarities between the temples of Hatshepsut and Mentuhotep II, they have significant differences. They are characterized by geometricity and strict lines, but the temple of Hatshepsut is more diverse and has a lush decorative effect.
Plan of the Temple of Hatshepsut. On the left is a plan of everything temple complex in Deir el-Bahri
Plan of the Temple of Hatshepsut
Section of the Temple of Hatshepsut
And the striking difference is the sculptures, of which there are over 200. In the temple itself there were at least 22 sphinxes, 40 Osiric statues and 28 statues depicting the queen sitting or kneeling. And about 120 more sphinxes decorated the courtyards and the road. During the 18th Dynasty, the role of sculpture greatly increased.
Hatshepsut statue
The head of the treasury and the head of the royal workshops, Hatshepsut, who supervised the work in the Deir el-Bahri temple, talks about the temple in the inscription on the mortuary wall of his tomb. He writes that "External the doors of the temple were made of black copper with electra inlays, and all the interior doors were made of real cedar with bronze details. Floor, according to Thuti, at least in one of the parts of the temple, was made of gold and silver, and its beauty was like the horizon of the sky.”
The temple was decorated in abundance with ornaments. Above the cornices of doors and niches there were most often in the form of alternating symbols of Osiris and Isis, or in the form of a kind of “secret” rebus images of the name Hatshepsut. In the prayer house of Hathor, lions were depicted on reliefs. Their motley striped manes, made in the form of conventional concentric circles on the shoulders, are very indicative of the ornaments of the Hatshepsut temple. Subsequently, all this pomp and decorativeness was actively developed by subsequent dynasties of pharaohs.
The temple at Deir el-Bahri was the most important during the reign of Hatshepsut. And Senmut’s attention was drawn specifically to him. And he even risked depicting himself on one of the walls of the temple. But these images were always positioned so that they would later be hidden behind doors. Obviously they were not intended for public viewing. And Senmut did an even more daring act - excavations discovered a secret tomb that Senmut had made for himself under the first courtyard of the temple. Moreover, the tomb of Senmut had been known for a long time, and therefore the discovery of the second tomb, and even in the temple of Hatshepsut, came as a surprise to researchers. The shape of this tomb is close to that of the royal tombs. Therefore, Senmut stands out from all the nobility and nobles. Particularly indicative is the inscription in the first hall of the tomb, made in large hieroglyphs along the very central part of the ceiling along its entire length: “ Long live Horus the following is the full title of Hatshepsut, king of Upper and Lower Egypt, beloved of Amon, living and keeper of the seal, chief of the house of Amon Senmut, conceived by Rames and born by Hatnefret.” The construction of such a semi-royal tomb and such an inscription was an unusually courageous act. And there is a version that this was the cause of Senmut’s death. Senmut's secret tomb was left unfinished, and there are no traces of burials, either in it or in the official tomb. This is the story of the creator of the temple at Deir el-Bahri, the magnificent architect and favorite of Hatshepsut, Senmut.
Drawing by artist Mikhail Potapov
Subsequently, Hatshepsut's daughter, heir to the throne, Nefrura, also dies.
The Temple of Hatshepsut did not retain its beautiful appearance for long. After the death of the queen, Thutmose III came to power, and not immediately, but after several years of reign, he ordered the destruction of all the statues of Hatshepsut, which interfered with his independent rule.
Hatshepsut. Drawing by Mikhail Potapov
Thutmose III. Drawing by Mikhail Potapov
Thutmose III. One of the greatest pharaoh warriors of Ancient Egypt.
Numerous temple sculptures were broken into pieces and buried nearby, where they were discovered by excavations.
Broken statue of Hatshepsut
Studies of Hatshepsut's mummy showed that she died of disease at the age of 40-50 years.
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The Temple of Hatshepsut occupies one of the most important places among all the attractions of Egypt. This majestic structure is located at the base of the sheer cliffs of Deir el-Bahri. The significance of the Temple of Hatshepsut can be judged by the way it was called in ancient times - Djeser Djeseru, or the Most Holy of the Holy. Its construction took nine years, from 1482 to 1473 BC. It is worth noting that the appearance of the temple was very different from all large-scale buildings of that time in its airiness and large number of sculptures. The Temple of Hatshepsut does not look as menacing as many other Egyptian attractions.
The significance of the Egyptian temple of Hatshepsut can be judged by the way it was called in ancient times - Djeser Djeseru, or the Most Holy of the Holy. Its construction took nine years, from 1482 to 1473 BC.
The female pharaoh Hatshepsut is one of the first famous ladies in world history. In addition to being an excellent ruler, Hatshepsut also understood the value of art and erected a huge number of monuments throughout the country. In addition, she restored destroyed landmarks. Only Ramesses II Meriamon built more than Hatshepsut. During her reign, Egypt prospered. Hatshepsut was such a strong personality, literally and figuratively, that she even personally led one of the military campaigns during her reign.
Surprisingly, the location for the temple of Hatshepsut was not chosen by chance, but with the help of precise calculations. It is located on the axis of the Karnak Temple of Amun and at the same time very close to the tomb that was intended for Hatshepsut herself in the Valley of the Kings on the other side of the mountain. The chief architect Senenmut worked on the creation of this temple. Now the temple of Hatshepsut is located practically in the desert - there is not a single tree nearby, and once this area was a real garden with exotic plants and a swimming pool. The frescoes on the walls of the temple tell about the reign of Hatshepsut and the events that took place. Here you can see scenes from life and images of gods.
The Temple of Hatshepsut gradually became a place of pilgrimage for many people. On its walls, scientists found a lot of inscriptions with requests for healing or help.
During the period of early Christianity, the temple housed a Coptic church. After many years, the building fell into ruins. Egyptologist Edouard Naville in 1891 was the first of all scientists to begin the reconstruction of the temple. True, he did not particularly believe in success: restoring the Temple of Hatshepsut was extremely difficult, since many of the details of the attraction were taken from Egypt. But thanks to the efforts of Polish restorers, the temple was eventually restored. By the way, restoration work is still going on.
Practical information
Keep in mind that Hatshepsut's temple is located almost in the desert and the air temperature is very high. It is most comfortable to visit this attraction in winter, spring or autumn. In any case, it's worth taking with you more water and dress in comfortable clothes.
Address: Desir al-Bahri, Thebes, Luxor
The ancient capital of Egypt, Thebes, was famous for its architectural masterpieces. Its symmetrically located complex of temples can be divided into two parts: on the eastern bank of the Nile, secular buildings settled - houses, palaces, temples (in Karnak and Luxor), while on the western bank everything was dedicated to the dead - pyramids, necropolises, mortuary temples. In this kingdom of the dead, the temples of Abu Simbel (temple of Ramesses II) and, in fact, the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor were especially popular.
Temple of Queen Hatshepsut: history and description
After the death of Pharaoh Thutmose II, his wife Hatshepsut assumed power, taking this right from the true successor Thutmose III. With the beginning of her reign, she immediately took up ambitious construction work.
The construction of the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut began during her lifetime. The construction of this majestic structure was led by the architect Senmut. Currently, the area where the temple of Hatshepsut is located in Egypt is called Deir el-Bahri. The location was chosen not far from the temple of Mentuhotep I, who was the founder of the 18th dynasty of pharaohs. Perhaps by this Hatshepsut wanted to emphasize her right to the captured throne. After completion of the work, the rock temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor surpassed all existing similar ancient Egyptian structures - its size, architecture and decoration amazed contemporaries.
Three steps connected by gentle ramps lead to the sanctuary of the temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahri, carved into the rock. The steps are terraces that in the past contained plants, trees and ponds. On the way to the temple, the traveler was accompanied by brightly painted sphinxes, with the heads of Hatshepsut in the image of Osiris.
The lowest step is surrounded by a wall decorated with falcons. At the end of this terrace there is a portico with 22 columns and a ramp separating them. In the old days, lion figures and huge statues of Queen Hatshepsut were located here. On the same tier there are images telling about forgotten military parades and construction work.
The second tier of the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Luxor in some ways repeats the lower step - there is also a portico and a ramp leading to the step above. Previously there was a pond with trees here. Reliefs at this level tell about the life of Queen Hatshepsut herself, about the expedition she organized to the country of Punt (East African settlements). The staircase contains figures of cobras with falcons on their backs. Cobras are a symbol of Upper Egypt, Falcons are a symbol of Lower Egypt, the whole composition symbolizes the unity of a large state. Here again you come across several sphinxes.
Hatshepsut as the Sphinx
The topmost tier is intended directly for rituals. The entrance to the rock-cut sanctuary of Hatshepsut was once decorated with a portico with huge statues of the queen, which were visible even to ships sailing on the Nile.
Entrance to the Sanctuary
Behind the entrance there was a complex system of rocky underground halls, richly decorated with the best materials of antiquity. For example, the main door was made of black copper with gold and silver inserts. The statues of Hatshepsut-Osiris were also located here.
Osiric Hatshepsut
In total, the temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Thebes used to contain about 200 statues, of which 140 were sphinxes. The sculptures of the temple represent the queen in three images - pharaoh, Osiris and sphinx. When creating them, special attention was paid to reproducing a detailed image of the queen, so in our time we can accurately imagine what she looked like.
But all this beauty was not destined to live long. After the true heir Thutmose III came to power, everything that reminded him of the usurper was ordered to be destroyed. The rock temple of Hatshepsut was also subjected to such repression, in which all the sculptures were destroyed and buried not far from the temple. And only many centuries later, archaeologists managed to restore the picture of the former greatness of the temple and present it to tourists and other lovers of antiquity.
The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is an ancient landmark located in the desert near Thebes, or more precisely in Deir El-Bahri. The temple was found during excavations in the 19th century along with the discovery of several other funeral temples.
In ancient times, the temple was called Djeser Djeseru, which translated means “most sacred.” It was built over nine years from 1482 to 1473. BC e. in the seventh year of the reign of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut. The architecture of the temple was carried out by Senmut, who was known as an outstanding architect and statesman.
The temple has an external resemblance to the palace-tomb of Mentuhotep and is even considered its continuation, despite the fact that it is larger in size. The structure is partially cut into the mountain, its width is approximately forty meters. Its main component is three large terraces, decorated with rows of white limestone columns, visually similar to a honeycomb. In the center of each terrace there is a ramp leading upstairs. Inside the temple - large number premises that were sanctuaries and burial rooms. The main decoration of the temple are numerous statues and sphinxes with the face of the queen, as well as ancient paintings depicting various events during the reign of the queen. The lower terrace adjoins a long alley about forty meters wide, on which myrrh trees are planted and sand sphinxes are displayed. Three steps in the form of large terraces lead to the temple. Previously, entire gardens were laid out on these terraces, trees were planted, and ponds were equipped.
Queen Hatshepsut became the sovereign ruler of Egypt after the death of her husband Thutmose II and from the first year of her reign began building grandiose structures, including a tomb for herself. As a result, the rock temple became the largest and richest structure of that time. The place for the construction of the temple was not chosen by chance. Thanks to its proximity to the temple of Mentuhotep, who became the founder of the 18th dynasty of pharaohs, Hatshepsut wanted to emphasize her right to the throne.
