Entrance ticket to the Temple of Hatshepsut. This was called Djeser-djeseru (sacred of sacreds) by the ancient Egyptians. The Queen`s architect Senemut designed the temple, and it took 15 years to build. It is a wonderful series of terraces which are cut into the mountain itself. The impressive Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri is built into the cliff face. It would have been approached by a sphinx-lined avenue leading through the valley to pylons. The temple was made up of three courts separated by colonnades, which were linked by ramps. In the first court were trees and other plants brought from Punt. This is thought to be the region of modern day Sudan or Eritrea. The remains of a tree reportedly brought back from the expedition to Punt. On the bottom terrace is a scene carved showing the quarrying and transportation of 2 obelisks from Aswan to Thebes, on a big river barge. The lower terrace of the Temple of Hatshepsut. On the main terrace are scenes depicting the divine conception and birth of Hatshepsut, Queen Ahmose being visited by Amun, Khnum creating Hatshepsut on his potter`s wheel and the pregnant Queen Ahmose being led by the goddess Heket to give birth. Scenes showing the expedition to Punt are also to be seen on the south side. It shows the Egyptian ships arriving, the exchange of local goods, rare animals, resins, valuables, animal skins, and various hunting scenes. Wall reliefs showing scenes from the expedition to Punt. A rock cut chapel dedicated to Hathor is at the south of the 2nd colonnade. It has a hypostyle entrance with Hathor headed pillars. The wall reliefs show feasts honoring Hathor, parades and scenes of sacrifice, offering and worship. Hathor is also shown nursing Hatshepsut as a cow. Senenmut, the architect, is also shown concealed in the various areas of the chapel. Hathor headed pillars from the Chapel of Hathor at the Temple of Hatshepsut. Wall relief showing Hathor as a cow suckling Queen Hatshepsut as a child. Photo showing the Hathor Chapel and sanctuary at the Temple of Hatshepsut. On the same colonnade, to the north, is a smaller chapel dedicated to Anubis, with a 12 columned hall and internal rooms.Throughout this area are scenes of the queen making offerings to Anubis and other gods. Wall relief showing Anubis receiving offerings. Further offering scenes to the gods. Osiride statues of Queen Hatshepsut are set against columns lining the front of the 3rd and upper terrace. Osiride columns of Queen Hatshepsut on the third terrace of her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. The third terrace has a granite gateway which leads into a pillared court. The walls here are decorated with scenes of the major Theban festivals of Opet and the Beautiful Feast of the Valley. The pillared court of the 3rd terrace of the Temple of Hatshepsut. View of the gateway looking out from the third terrace at the Temple of Hatshepsut. At the back of the central court, the inner sanctuary is cut into the rocks. There are 18 cult niches, which line the rock sanctuary of Amun. It was here that the sacred barque of Amun would arrive in the "Beautiful Feast of the Valley" celebration each year. Sanctuary of Amun on the upper terrace at the Temple of Hatshepsut. The sanctuary of Amun was expanded during the Ptolemaic period to include cults to two architects, Amenophis son of Hapu, who oversaw the building of Amenophis III`s monuments, and Imhotep, the builder of the Step Pyramid. They were also linked to medicine and wisdom. This may explain why the upper court was often visited by the sick and may have been used as a sanatorium. In the 7th century AD, the Coptic monastery, the "Monastery of the North" used this temple site. On the left hand side of the central court is an area honouring the queen and her father. On the right of the main court is a smaller court where there is an alter to the sun god Ra-Horakhty and also chapels honouring Anubis and Amen. The photo shows the central court looking towards the rooms were scenes honour Queen Hatshepsut and her father. The temple was severely damaged at the hands of Hatshepsut`s successor, Tuthmosis III. Hatshepsut`s name and many representations of her were hacked off. Further damage was committed during the Amarna period, when images of Amun were destroyed and some of the Osiride statues of Hatshepsut were destroyed in the 19th dynasty. The early Coptic Christians also defaced many of the images of Egyptian gods. Some major restoration and repair work has been carried out here over many years. The Polish-Egyptian team that have been working at the temple since 1961, have managed to restore the upper terrace wall using many recovered blocks. It has recently been re-opened to the public by the Egyptian antiquities officials. Tombs can be seen cut into the cliff side to the side of the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri. There had been a valley temple to Hatshepsut`s complex. Foundation blocks were found by Howard Carter. The tomb of the architect Senenmut, was found to the right of the avenue which leads to the temple. The tomb was unfinished and he was actually buried in a tomb at Sheikh Abd el-Qurna. All content on this page unless otherwise specified © Diane Day 2001-2004