The Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahri is one of the most characteristic temples in all of Egypt. It was built of limestone,
The Temple was built to commemorate the achievements of the great Queen Hatshepsut (18th Dynasty), and as a funerary Temple for her, as well as a sanctuary of the god, Amon Ra
In the 7th century AD, it was named after a Coptic monastery in the area, known as the “Northern Monastery”.
Today it’s known as the Temple of Deir El-Bahri, which means in Arabic, the “Temple of the Northern Monastery”. There is a theory suggesting that the Temple, in the Early Christian Period, was used as a Coptic monastery.
This unique temple describes the conflict between Hatshepsut, and step sonTuthmosis III, since many of her statues were destroyed, and the followers of Tuthmosis III damaged most of her Cartouches after the mysterious death of the queen
The Temple consists of three imposing terraces. The two lower ones would have once been full of trees.
On the southern end of the 1st colonnade, there are some scenes, among them the famous scene of the transportation of Hatshepsut’s two obelisks.
The 2nd terrace is now accessed by a ramp
The famous Punt relief is engraved on the southern side of the 2nd colonnade. The journey to Punt (now called Somalia) was the first pictorial documentation of a trade expedition that was recorded
To the south, there is the shrine of the Goddess Hathor, The court that leads to this chapel has columns, where Hathor, who is shown with a woman’s face and cow’s ears, is carrying a sistrum
On the northern side of the 2nd colonnade, there is a scene depicting the divine birth of Hatshepsut. The Queen claimed that she was the divine daughter of Amon Ra to legitimize her rule.
The 3rd terrace is also accessed by a ramp. It consists of two rows of columns, the front ones taking the Osirid form (a mummy form)
The colonnade, which leads to the sanctuary of the Temple, has also been severely damaged. This sanctuary consists of two small chapels.
