Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty c.1479–1458 BCE·Egyptian (New Kingdom, Thutmosid)·🇪🇬 Luxor Governorate, Egypt
About
About Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut's Djeser-Djeseru (c.1470 BCE) – a three-terraced colonnaded mortuary temple cut into the Theban cliff opposite Karnak, designed by Senenmut. Ramped causeway of sphinxes, 26 Osiride pillars, reliefs of the Punt expedition and divine birth, Hathor and Anubis chapels, unfinished tomb KV20 alignment and botanical garden reliefs make it the finest New Kingdom funerary architecture.
Why it mattersMasterpiece of New Kingdom terraced architecture and female pharaoh self-representation
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre and cosmological alignment
- 02Territorial marker and ritual landscape
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1479–1458 BCE under Queen Hatshepsut (architect Senenmut)
- Period
- New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty c.1479–1458 BCE
- Culture
- Egyptian (New Kingdom, Thutmosid)
- Builders
- Queen Hatshepsut via Senenmut
- Purpose
- Mortuary temple (Djeser-Djeseru) – funerary cult, Amun processional, terraced garden
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1479–1458 BCE under Queen Hatshepsut (architect Senenmut)
Initial construction
On the ground
Structures & features
25.7381° N · 32.6067° E · 105 m · 3 mapped features
Upper Terrace Colonnade
colonnadeThird terrace Osiride-pillared colonnade against cliff
25.7385° N · 32.6070° EPunt Expedition Reliefs
reliefMiddle terrace reliefs depicting voyage to Punt with myrrh and exotic fauna
25.7382° N · 32.6068° EHathor Chapel
chapelHathor-headed chapel on southern colonnade with cow-goddess cult
25.7378° N · 32.6065° E