EGYPT: Hatshepsut Temple (Deir el-Bahari) - Luxor

The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut was built for pharaoh queen Hatshepsut, dedicated to the God Amun and Hatshepsut. While the statues and ornamentation have since been stolen or destroyed, the temple once was home to two statues of Osiris, a long avenue lined by sphinxes, as well as many sculptures of pharaoh Hatshepsut in different attitudes – standing, sitting, or kneeling.

Hatshepsut was the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. She was the second historically-confirmed female pharaoh, the first being Sobekneferu. She came to the throne of Egypt in 1478 BC. Her rise to power was noteworthy as it required her to utilize her bloodline, education, and an understanding of religion. Her bloodline was impeccable as she was the daughter, sister, and wife of a king. Her understanding of religion allowed her to establish herself as the God’s Wife of Amen. Officially, she ruled jointly with Thutmose III, who had ascended to the throne the previous year as a child of about two years old. Hatshepsut was the chief wife of Thutmose II, Thutmose III’s father. She is generally regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an indigenous Egyptian dynasty.

The Hatshepsut Tempel is part of Deir el-Bahari, a complex of mortuary temples and tombes. The first mortuary temple built at the site was from Mentuhotep II of the Eleventh Dynasty, constructed during the 15th century BCE. The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut was from the Eighteenth Dynasty. Thutmose III also built a mortuary temple complex here dedicated to Amun; however, not much is known about the temple.

The temples are located beneath the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari on the west bank of the Nile near the Valley of the Kings, opposite the city of Luxor, Egypt. It is a part of the Theban Necropolis.

March 18, 2019

Impression of the original temple complex:
https://jeanclaudegolvin.com/en/deir-...

More videos of Luxor:    • 🇪🇬 Luxor (Egypt)