Hatshepsut`s Temple at Deir el-Bahri is a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture, whose geometric purity and harmony with the landscape still astonish travelers today. However, its true uniqueness lies not only in its architecture but also in the personality of its patron. This is a temple-manifesto, built by the supreme will of a woman who managed to reach the pinnacle of power in a society where it seemed unthinkable. The story of its creation is, first and foremost, the story of Queen Hatshepsut herself.
Hatshepsut: A Woman on the Pharaoh`s Throne
Hatshepsut is one of the most outstanding and extraordinary rulers in the history of Ancient Egypt. The daughter of Pharaoh Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose, she was destined for power from birth. After her father`s death, she married her half-brother Thutmose II, becoming the Great Royal Wife. When her husband died, the throne was to pass to the young Thutmose III, the son of a secondary wife. But Hatshepsut took an unprecedented step — first becoming regent for her stepson, and a few years later proclaiming herself the rightful pharaoh.
To legitimize her power, Hatshepsut created an entire propaganda program. She claimed that the god Amun himself chose her as ruler and even spread the legend of her divine birth. In reliefs, she was depicted in male guise — with a ceremonial beard and traditional royal attire, yet she retained feminine grammatical endings in the inscriptions.
Her reign (circa 1479-1458 BC) was a time of peace and prosperity. Instead of conquest campaigns, she focused on large-scale construction, the restoration of shrines, and the development of trade. It was under her that the famous expedition to the land of Punt (likely the territory of modern Somalia) was organized, bringing back gold, ivory, exotic animals, and trees for incense.
Compared to other pharaohs of Egypt, Hatshepsut is evaluated as a wise and effective ruler. She is often contrasted with warlike pharaoh-conquerors. While her successor Thutmose III expanded the empire`s borders, Hatshepsut strengthened its economy and culture. Historians note that an unprecedented number of construction projects were carried out under her rule, many of which have survived to this day.
The Concept of the Temple at Deir el-Bahri
For her mortuary temple, Hatshepsut chose a unique location — the rocky amphitheater at Deir el-Bahri, opposite Thebes (modern Luxor), near the entrance to the Valley of the Kings. This was no accident:
• The site had sacred significance — nearby was the temple of Mentuhotep II, founder of the Middle Kingdom.
• The rock provided natural protection.
• The temple`s terraces perfectly fit into the landscape, creating harmony between human creation and nature.
• The location allowed the temple to be included in religious processions during the Festival of the Valley.
The temple received the Egyptian name "Djeser-Djeseru" — "The Holiest of Holy." Construction lasted about 15 years under the direction of the architect Senenmut, a close advisor to the queen.
An Architectural Marvel: Three Tiers of Harmony
Hatshepsut`s Temple is a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture, radically different from traditional mortuary temples.
First Tier (Lower): A wide processional road led to the first portico with 22 columns. Originally, a garden with exotic trees and ponds was located here. The walls feature scenes of transporting obelisks from Aswan.
Second Tier (Middle): Two ramp staircases lead to the second terrace. The left portico is decorated with reliefs depicting the divine birth of Hatshepsut (her "official" version of origin from the god Amun). The right portico is famous for scenes of the expedition to Punt — a detailed account of the journey, goods, and meeting with the rulers of the distant land. Here also are the chapels of the goddess Hathor and the god Anubis.
Third Tier (Upper): Through another columned hall, the visitor enters the heart of the temple — the sanctuary of Amun-Ra. These are chambers carved into the rock, accessible only to priests and the queen herself. The central sanctuary was dedicated to Amun, the side ones — to Hatshepsut herself and her father Thutmose I.
The temple`s architecture amazes with its geometric purity of lines, symmetry, and harmonious integration into the rocky landscape. The alternation of massive columns and open spaces creates a play of light and shadow that changes throughout the day.
Gods and Sanctuaries
The temple was dedicated to several deities:
• Amun-Ra — the supreme god, to whom the main sanctuary is dedicated.
• Hathor — the goddess of love and sky, patroness of the Theban necropolis.
• Anubis — the god of embalming and the underworld.
• Ra-Horakhty — a solar deity.
The temple served not only the mortuary cult of Hatshepsut but was also an important religious center connected with the Festival of the Valley, when the statue of Amun from Karnak was brought here for "reunion" with the deceased ancestors.
What Tourists Must See
• Reliefs of the Expedition to Punt — a unique "documentary" chronicle of the journey with images of ships, exotic animals, and architecture of the distant land.
• Scenes of Divine Birth — political propaganda in stone, showing how the god Amun took the form of Thutmose I to conceive Hatshepsut.
• The Chapel of Hathor — with columns crowned by capitals in the shape of the goddess`s head with cow ears.
• The Lower Sanctuary of Anubis — a well-preserved chamber with reliefs depicting the queen before various deities.
• The Solar Sanctuary — an open courtyard for sun worship, one of the few surviving examples of such a cult.
• Osiride Statues of Hatshepsut — along the colonnades of the second tier stood statues of the queen in the image of the god Osiris; some of them have been restored.
• Polish Restoration Works — since 1961, Polish archaeologists have been conducting restoration of the temple; their work can be seen in specially designated areas.
Subsequent History and Restoration
After Hatshepsut`s death, Thutmose III ordered her memory to be erased: statues were smashed, her name was chiseled off monuments, and images were altered. For a long time, the temple lay in oblivion and was used as a Christian monastery (hence the Arabic name "Deir el-Bahri" — "Northern Monastery").
Systematic excavations began in the late 19th century. The most extensive restoration work has been carried out since 1961 by the Polish archaeological mission, which has managed to restore many architectural elements and reliefs.
Today, the Temple of Hatshepsut is not only a monument to a great ruler but also a testament to the highest skill of ancient Egyptian architects, who managed to create a structure that, after millennia, continues to amaze with its harmony and grandeur.
