Information
Landmark: Hatshepsut TempleCity: Luxor
Country: Egypt
Continent: Africa
Hatshepsut Temple, Luxor, Egypt, Africa
Overview
The Hatshepsut Temple, also called Djeser-Djeseru-“Holy of Holies”-rises from the cliffs in sweeping terraces, making it one of Egypt’s most remarkable and singular monuments.This temple rises from the cliffs in the Valley of the Kings, on the Nile’s west bank near Luxor, built to honor Queen Hatshepsut, the fifth pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty (c.).From 1479 to 1458 BC, a span of twenty-one years, the dates mark an era long before iron tools rang on stone.It’s famous for its breathtaking architecture, the way it blends seamlessly into the cliffs around it, and the enduring legacy of one of Egypt’s most accomplished and celebrated female pharaohs.Hatshepsut was one of the rare female pharaohs of Egypt, first sharing power with her stepson Thutmose III before taking the throne entirely on her own.Once she took the throne, she ordered a grand mortuary temple to be built, its walls carved with scenes honoring Amun and proclaiming her reign.During the 18th Dynasty, a time of wealth and artistic growth, the architect Senmut oversaw the temple’s creation, shaping its design and guiding the workers who set the stones in place.The Hatshepsut Temple stands out as one of ancient Egypt’s most remarkable feats, its terraces and colonnades carved seamlessly into the sheer cliffs of the Theban Mountains.The temple blends seamlessly into the land, using the curve of the hills and the shade of old trees to rise as both a graceful and imposing presence.The Hatshepsut Temple rises in three broad terraces, each linked by a long ramp that climbs from the valley floor like a pale stone path, drawing the eye upward in a striking sweep.Once, these terraces brimmed with lush gardens, their green leaves cool against the desert heat, meant to evoke the sense of an oasis and the promise of rebirth.The temple’s terraces line up perfectly with the jagged cliffs, so the whole structure seems carved right into the rock.The design echoes the shape of the mountains, so the temple seems to rise straight out of the stone, as if carved from the cliff itself.Originally, terraces stood lined with neat rows of statues and tall stone columns, while some gardens likely bloomed with plants sacred to the god Amun, like fragrant blue lotuses.On the first terrace, a graceful colonnade-tall stone columns in a neat row-wraps around an open courtyard.This section of the temple hosted public rituals and ceremonies, where incense curled into the air and voices rose together.Scenes from Hatshepsut’s reign wind up the columns, from triumphal processions to her radiant divine birth.Two rows of columns line the colonnade, each crowned with a carved lotus blossom that stands for Egypt’s Upper and Lower regions.On the second terrace, the Central Hall stretches in a forest of stone columns before opening into the quiet inner sanctuary.The hall captures the essence of traditional Egyptian design, with towering columns that seem to touch the ceiling and carvings so fine you can trace each line with your fingertip.At the heart of the temple lies its most sacred space, the sanctuary, where the rituals of Hatshepsut’s mortuary cult once filled the air with incense and quiet chants.Inside stood a statue of Hatshepsut, along with figures of other gods carved in cool, gray stone.Carved into the sanctuary walls were reliefs of Hatshepsut’s divine birth, her crown being placed upon her head, and scenes of her victories-both on the battlefield and at the treaty table.On the second terrace stands the Chapel of Anubis, dedicated to the jackal-headed god who guards the dead and oversees mummification.In this area, you’ll find a statue of the god along with carved scenes depicting the king’s ties to several deities, Amun among them, their figures etched deep into the stone.At the top, the third terrace rises as the temple’s highest level, where a smaller shrine to Amun once stood, its stone walls warm under the afternoon sun.Carved into the sheer cliffs, this section of the temple is seen as a symbol of Hatshepsut’s bond with the divine and her place as a ruler the gods themselves selected.The temple is also famous for two towering obelisks that once rose at its entrance, their stone faces catching the first light of dawn.The obelisks, cut from deep red granite, bear sharp-edged inscriptions praising Hatshepsut’s rule and her bond with the gods.One obelisk lies toppled in the dust, while the other still rises exactly where it was first set.The temple walls brim with intricate reliefs and carved inscriptions, each line and figure whispering the story of Hatshepsut’s reign.These include scenes of Hatshepsut’s divine birth, showing the god Amun as her father and Queen Ahmose cradling the tiny future ruler in her arms.Scenes from the expedition to Punt-Hatshepsut’s crowning achievement-show ships heavy with incense trees and baskets of gold.The Punt Expedition reliefs show Hatshepsut’s envoys sailing to Punt-likely in today’s Somalia or Eritrea-and returning with treasures like fragrant frankincense, bitter myrrh, and even elephants.These reliefs rank among the best-known portrayals of ancient Egyptian trade, showing merchants laden with jars and bolts of cloth.Scenes show gifts laid before the gods, with Hatshepsut herself carved handing tribute to Amun and other deities-proof, in stone, of her divine claim to rule.Hatshepsut’s temple rose from the cliffs not only as her resting place but as a bold stone testament to her power and right to rule.She used it as propaganda to bolster her claim to the throne and to proclaim her divine right, a message that carried extra weight in a court where nearly every advisor was a man.The temple underscored the belief that she’d been chosen by the gods to rule Egypt, a message carved into its walls and painted in vivid scenes of her standing tall, victorious over her enemies.The Punt Expedition reliefs vividly showcase Hatshepsut’s military skill and diplomatic finesse, capturing her success in extending Egypt’s reach and forging profitable trade ties-like the exotic myrrh trees brought back from foreign shores.In these scenes, exotic animals pad into view beside crates of gleaming luxury goods, a vivid display of Egypt’s wealth and power during her reign.The Hatshepsut Temple stands as a true masterpiece of ancient Egyptian design, its terraces rising in crisp, sunlit steps against the desert cliffs.Blending traditional Egyptian motifs with bold new ideas, its design rises in harmony with the desert’s curve, making it one of the most breathtaking sights of ancient Egypt.Many see the temple as an early model that shaped later monuments, including the massive, sunlit sanctuary of Ramses II at Abu Simbel.After Hatshepsut’s death, her successor Thutmose III struck back at her memory, chiseling her name from temple walls in an attempt to wipe out her legacy.They smashed many of Hatshepsut’s statues, and her name vanished from the temple walls, leaving only faint chisel marks where it once was.Despite all that, most of the temple still stood, its stone pillars warm under the late afternoon sun.
