Ancient site · Qena
Dendera Temple
The temple of the goddess Hathor near Qena, among Egypt's best-preserved, with columns crowned by Hathor's face and ceilings rich in astronomical carvings.
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The story
Dendera was a cult centre of Hathor, goddess of music, joy and motherhood, and evidence points to older structures on the site going back to King Pepy I of the Old Kingdom. The temple standing today is Ptolemaic, begun around 54 BC under Ptolemy XII, with Roman additions including the columned hall under Tiberius. It is linked to the celebrated Dendera Zodiac, a star map carved around 50 BC, whose original is now in the Louvre. The complex lies on the Nile's west bank, about 60 km north of Luxor.
Good to know
- The six entrance columns are crowned with the face of Hathor, framed by sistrum (ritual rattle) motifs.
- The original Zodiac is in the Louvre; carved about 50 BC, it is more a star map than an astrological chart, and a copy stands at the site.
- On the rear wall is a relief of Cleopatra VII and her son Caesarion.
- Beneath the temple lie decorated crypts, thought to have stored sacred vessels and treasures.
- Evidence of structures on the site goes back to Pepy I, thousands of years before the present building.
Visiting tips
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities site, it opens daily 7:00-17:00, with extra fees possible for the crypts and some areas. Check hours and prices before visiting.