Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

Three ancient Egyptian temples stand at the foot of the cliffs surrounding Deir el-Bahri, an archaeological site in the Theban necropolis on the west bank of the Nile River. The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is arguably the most famous of the three, as well as the most beautiful and visually striking among all of Egypt's mortuary temples. Dedicated to the sun god Amun, it is also the earliest to have survived from the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom.

This architectural masterpiece was designed in the 15th century BC by Senenmut, a multitalented official who held many titles in Queen Hatshepsut's royal administration. In order to memorialize her legacy among her male predecessors, Queen Hatshepsut not only had her mortuary temple constructed beside that of Mentuhotep II, but had Senenmut use the temple built five centuries earlier as an inspiration for hers.
Senenmut was careful, however, to make all of the elements of Queen Hatshepsut's temple much grander.
The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut continues to be an incomparable monument of ancient Egypt, and a fitting tribute to a woman remembered as the greatest of Egypt's female pharaohs.Read more