25 Amazing Hatshepsut Temple Facts: Architecture & History
Hatshepsut Temple is a classic instance of pure architectural beauty, and there is no other structure that could match the elegance and beauty that is it.
Hatshepsut Temple is considered to be one of the most significant landmarks in Egypt and showcases the best of the ancient architecture.
We will discuss through this article who is hatshepsut, the history of her temple and, the hatshepsut temple facts in detail.
25 Hatshepsut temple facts
It is among the most ancient of Egypt’s stunning temples and is considered the best ancient Egyptian construction.
Hatshepsut Temple surpasses all other similar structures in Ancient Egypt in scale and quantity of decorations. It is a standout with a panoramic view of ancient Egyptian temples and temples.
1. Design and Layout
In 1479 B.C., Queen Hatshepsut ordered the construction of the magnificent temple. The temple was built to tell the events of her life that took around fifteen years to complete.
Senenmut, Hatshepsut’s administrator, was the architect of the temple. Senenmut carefully constructed it in the style of the temple of Mentuhotep II and then extended every aspect of it.
Temple of Hatshepsut architecture is a semi-rock structure; the sanctuary is carved into the rock and connects with the underground chambers.
Temple Hatshepsut comprises three terrace steps that rise above each other and are joined with gentle stair ramps.
This is a brief list of the features that are listed:
- The lower terrace of the temple.
- The second terrace of the temple.
- The upper part of Hatshepsut Temple.
- The Lower Terrace of Hatshepsut Temple.
- The Second Terrace of Hatshepsut Temple
2. The Second Terrace of Hatshepsut Temple
Hatshepsut Temple’s second terrace can be reached via a staircase through the entryway. There was once an artificial pond in the middle, with trees surrounding it.
The builders of the past added the tetrahedral monolithic entrance to the western end of the terrace.
Relief compositions relating to the life of Queen Hatshepsut are kept on the walls of the gate.
Here, she is the mom of Egypt’s king-to-be queen, Queen Ahmes, who is married to Amun-Ra, the god of Egypt.
Some scenes depict the birth of Hatshepsut from the “divine” union, as the coronation ceremony and receiving blessings from goddess Hathor.
The reliefs at the opposite end of the terrace show an expedition sent by the queen.
3. The Upper Terrace of the Temple
There was a time when the antiquated Egyptians embellished the steps leading to the upper deck with enormous cobras, each with a falcon perched upon its rear. e.
Facade
The temple’s main rituals were performed at the top of the terrace. This is why the Hatshepsut temple’s entryway was believed to be cut into the rock. The facade of the sanctuary is a portico containing four columns.
Inner Halls
A fascinating underground labyrinth made of rooms made of rock extends beyond the colonnade at the entrance.
The main hall was enclosed by three-meter-high sculptures depicting the queen Hatshepsut and the god Osiris.
Sanctuary
A massive statue of the queen made of marble was located in the main room of the underground shrine.
Unfortunately, only fragments of it are left. The temple contains more than 200 sculptures, with 140 sphinxes.
The History of Hatshepsut Temple
One of the Hatshepsut temple facts was constructed by Queen Hatshepsut in the 18th dynasty in the kingdom of the newly established situated on the West bank of Nile under the cliffs known as “Deir El-Bahari”.
Its mission was to transform into the temple for the dead of Hatshepsut and was also known in the form of Djeser-Djeseru (Holy of the Holies).
The temple was located in the vicinity of the Mortuary Temple in Mentuhotep II, which was utilized as a principal model.
The dedication was to goddess Amun as well as Hatshepsut herself, who succeeded in immortalizing her name throughout the years.
Who is Queen Hatshepsut?
Hatshepsut c. 1508-1458 B.C. was comfortable in the traditional female role of a support player within the royal Egyptians for many years.
She was the daughter of a pharaoh (Thutmose I) and the queen’s spouse of a different one Thutmose II and her half-brother.
Hatshepsut did her best to become regent to Thutmose III, who was just the age of six at the time her husband passed away around 1479 B.C.
As time went on, Hatshepsut became less of an interim overseer and became Egypt’s legitimate monarch, calling herself “The Lady of the Two Lands.”
She made a bold power move when Thutmose III entered the age of adulthood and he was about to assume the throne officially.
Hatshepsut became the pharaoh of Egypt, overshadowing Thutmose III.
She ruled for 21 years, overseeing large-scale construction projects.
After Hatshepsut’s death, Thutmose III took the throne. Hatshepsut’s reign was overlooked for generations, but her status as Egypt’s strongest female pharaoh was revived by archaeologists interpreting hieroglyphics in Deir El Bahri in 1822 and locating her grave in 1903.
Who Designed the Temple of Hatshepsut?
Hatshepsut Temple was designed by the chancellor of Hatshepsut and royal architect Senenmut around 1479 BC, approximately 17 miles to the northwest of Luxor, located on the western edge of the capital city of Egypt in the newly established Kingdom of Thebes.
It took fifteen years for the temple to truly reflect the splendor of Hatshepsut.
The style of the Hatshepsut temple was quite special, as it was the closest Egypt could be to the concept that was the basis of classical architecture.
It marked the transition away from the megalithic geometries that were the norm in the Old Kingdom towards the modern style that was the style of the New Kingdom, which was awash with religious worship and shrines to honor gods that were related to the afterlife of her.
The Architecture of Queen Hatshepsut Temple
Hatshepsut Temple comprises three levels, It houses the two Osiris statues along with a sphinx avenue as well as colonnades that have square pillars.
It is home to its shrine to Hathor with a hypostyle hall that has twelve stunning columns, as well as an altar of Anubis, which has an elegant hypostyle hall with fluted columns.
There is also the sanctuary dedicated to Amun, one of the major attractions in the shrine is its magical wall carvings and descriptions that describe and explain the crucial incidents of Hatshepsut, including her travels in the land of Punt, as well as her connection with the goddess Amun.
Hatshepsut Temple Location
The Queen Hatshepsut temple, located in Upper Egypt, is situated beneath the cliffs of “Deir El-Bahari,” a Coptic monastery in Thebes, Egypt’s capital city during the Egyptian New Kingdom (1550-1050 BC).
It is located close to the mortuary temple of Mentuhotep II.
The Valley of the Kings entrance is also accessible during your Egypt tour.
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Things You Can See at Hatshepsut Temple
Even though certain portions of this amazing ancient monument have been damaged and damaged, many visitors on tours of Egypt excursions claimed that this site is well preserved and worthy of a tour.
The magnificent temple was constructed on three huge terraces connected via ramps.
The hours are all hours from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day, the bazaar or market featuring various products is near the property’s entry point.
The Birth Colonnade, Punt Colonnade, Hathor’s Chapel, Anubis’ Chapel, and Amun’s Sanctuary could be located inside this stunning temple.
If you’re in Egypt, you should visit the Hatshepsut Temple.
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26 Hatshepsut temple facts
Here is hatshepsut temple facts:
- One of the oldest temples in Egypt
- regarded as the finest building in ancient Egypt.
- surpasses other structures in terms of ornamentation and scale.
- In 1479 BCE, Hatshepsut constructed it.
- took fifteen years to complete.
- Senenmut, her administrator, created it.
- inspired by the temple architecture of Mentuhotep II.
- partially carved into cliffs, semi-rock construction.
- There are three terrace stairs and connecting ramps.
- comprises the upper, second, and lower terraces.
- Underground rooms are connected to the sanctuary.
- accessible through the entryway of the staircase
- had an artificial central pond at first.
- A pond encircled by trees
- The west end’s tetrahedral monolithic entrance
- Reliefs depict Hatshepsut as Amun-Ra’s daughter.
- Her divine birth and coronation are shown in scenes.
- The opposite walls show the expedition to Punt.
- Steps with figurines of falcons and cobras
- This is where the primary rites are performed.
- rock-cut facade of the entrance.
- There are four columns on the portico.
- Rock-cut rooms in an underground labyrinth
- Three-meter statues of Hatshepsut in the Osiris style were displayed in the main hall.
- There was a big ‘now broken’ marble statue in the sanctuary.
- had more than 200 sculptures at first, 140 of which were sphinxes.
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Why was the temple of Hatshepsut built?
The purpose of queen hatshepsut temple was to worship the god Amun and narrate her life story while demonstrating her power, it was larger than the nearby Temple of Mentuhotep II.
Was Hatshepsut buried in her mortuary temple
The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut was not where she was buried.
Her father’s body was taken to be buried with her in what is thought to be the first tomb in the Valley of the Kings.
Why is the Temple of Hatshepsut important?
The Temple of queen Hatshepsut is important not only as a marvel of engineering but also as a window into her reign.
Despite being virtually erased from history, Hatshepsut’s two-decade reign is illuminated by the stories depicted on the temple’s colonnades.
How did Hatshepsut die?
However, more recent research has determined that either diabetes or cancer caused the female pharaoh’s death, which occurred around the age of 35.
Hatshepsut, who ruled Upper Egypt in the 15th century B.C., started out as her young stepson’s regent.
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