Hatshepsut’s temple is located in Upper Egypt, particularly in a region known as the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut or Deir el-Bahri more specifically, Djeseru – Holy of Holies. It is situated at the base of cliffs at Deir el-Bahari at the top of the river bank of the Nile near the Valley of Kings. The temple was initiated by Queen Hatshepsut, the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt who ruled from 1479- 1458 BC.
The temple occupies a prominent place from an architectural point of view and is among the most famous monuments of Egypt. Senenmut, Hatshepsut’s chancellor and royal architect was in charge of designing Djeserak. The structure is carved into a cliff that looms steeply over it, and comprises three levels that are linked by long ramps: According to Grant, what surrounded the ramps were gardens containing plants like frankincense trees.
The exterior and interior of the temple exhibit various scenes like the birth and rise to power of Hatshepsut, the voyage of the queen to the lost city of Punt in present-day Somalia, and several other events in her reign. Thus, these art pieces not only developed a positive attitude towards the achievements of this pharaoh but also an attempt at the policy and justification of her authority as a woman.
Thus, the described Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut remains one of the most splendid examples of her reign as well as the input she provided to the fates of Egyptian architecture and culture.
Who is Hatshepsut?
Hatshepsut can be regarded as one of the most effective rulers of ancient Egypt and one of the few women kings. She took her place as the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty, and reigned from around 1479-1458 B. C. Here are some key points about her: Here are key points about her:
1. Early Life and Ascendancy: Hatshepsut was the daughter of Thutmose I and Ahmose who was also a king’s wife. The two became married and the woman bearing a child to Thutmose II, their offspring went by the name of Neferure. Hatshepsut became a regent when her husband Thutmose II died and young Thutmose III, son of Thutmose I and Thutmose II’s wife, was too young to rule.
2. Rise to Power: Hatshepsut began to take power and, in the end, the woman claimed the status of the pharaoh. To strengthen her position and gain more authority then other kings she wore kingly features like beard and khepresh, which is the flies like headdress.
3. Reign and Achievements: She was well known for her prosperity and the fact that her reign was characterized by absolute peace. She continued on with monumental constructions, trade and missions, and the general enlargement of Egyptian hegemony. One of her most famous accomplishments involved her alleged trip to the Land of Punt with vasts loads of precious item such as honey, incense, and myrrh as well as live animals.
4. Architectural Legacy: Hatshepsut undertook many construction projects, her most important one being the mortuary temple of Deir el-Bahari. It is therefore brilliantly of the several structures that are recognized in ancient Egyptian history and heritage.
5. Depiction and Propaganda: Thus, cultivating her origin from the gods, Hatshepsut tried to receive official recognition of her position and was depicted in many statues and reliefs as a male pharaoh. She stressed that she was a direct descendant of the god Amun and spoke of divine approval of her rule.
6. End of Reign and Legacy: Hatshepsut had reigned for approximately, a period of 22 years. After her death, Thutmose III came to power and tried to remove any traces of Hatshepsut from existence by inscribing over her statues and obelisks and chiseling out her name from the historical documentation. However, the merit of Hatshepsut remained buried for a long time and only later on she was credited as one of the most tremendous and successful rulers of Egypt.
She is best remembered as an excellent ruler and a great source of Egypt’s greater prosperity and stability whose efforts are worth celebrating in the society especially being a woman in a male-dominated kingdom.
Design of The Temple :
When it comes to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, the architecture returns maximum credit to Ancient Egyptians with the help of architecture that fits with the geographic path and shows the skill of Ancient Egyptians. Key elements of its design include: Key elements of its design include:
1. Terraced Structure: It has three stepped platforms that rise from the valley bottom all up to the base of the cliff. One ramp is straight and very long and links each terrace.
2. Colonnades: Every terrace has a colonnade at the front, a row of columns supporting the roof. The columns of the lower or the first terrace are square in breach while those on the other terraces are more slim and circular.
3. Sanctuary: Actually the core of the temple is a sanctum made in the cliff. This holy part contained statues and amazed for the gods such as Amun, Hathor, and Anubis as well as for the queen herself, Hatshepsut.
4. Porticoes: For the closed columns one can observe the friezes and inscriptions plus the terraces have porticoes – covered galleries on columns. These depict different aspects of Hatshepsut’s rule such as birth, crowning among others; and her striking innovation of the expedition to Punt.
5. Chapel of Hathor and Chapel of Anubis: These chapels are located on the second terrace to make them easily accessible to the people. ; Hathor Chapel is for the goddess Hathor, while the Anubis Chapel is for the god Anubis. Both chapels have walls that are ornate as well as endearing representations in appreciation of these deities.
6. Sphinxes and Statues: Originally there were figures of sphinxes along the processional route to the temple, they depicted Hatshepsut. Also, sculptures of the queen in various forms where she was depicted as Osiris, the god of life after death were also displayed within the temple.
7. Gardens and Courtyards: The temple complex included groves of strange and wonderful trees and flowering plants Some of the trees were acquired from the expedition to the land of Punt. These gardens were quite beautiful and also served or have symbolic meanings added to the temple.