Temple of Hatshepsut is one of the most harmonious temples in Luxor is located in the valley of Deir el-Bahari, on the left side of the Nile not far from the Valley of the Kings. The name of Deir el-Bahari (northern monastery) comes from the Coptic monastery, which has been there for several centuries, and to a degree it saved the temple of Hatshepsut from destruction.
In 1881 in this valley the French archaeologist Maspero found the mortuary temples of the Pharaoh Mentuhotep I (XXI B.C.), as well as the adjacent temple of Hatshepsut, which was built 600 years later in XV B.C.
Hatshepsut`s Temple is at the foot of the cliff. It was built by the architect Senmut during 1482-1473 B.C. in the form of three terraces connected with stairs. On the walls of the tem-ple the travel of Hatshepsut to the Upper Egypt is depicted. The stairs of the terraces are performed in the form of cobra (Upper Egypt), on the back of which hawks are sitting (Low-er Egypt). All of this embody the unity of two parts of Egypt.
From each terrace one can go into the internal rooms hollowed in the rock. On the second terrace the sanctuaries of the Goddess-Hathor (whom the entire valley was devoted to in ancient times), and Anubis, the God of the Dead, are located. On the upper terrace the sanctuaries of the Hatshepsut`s parents, the Pharaoh Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose, are located, with most part of the upper terrace devoted to the Queen Hatshepsut herself.
