Ancient site · Luxor
Hatshepsut Temple
Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari: three broad terraces rising from the desert and set against a dramatic limestone cliff on Luxor's West Bank.
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The story
The temple was built under Queen Hatshepsut of the Eighteenth Dynasty, with construction generally dated between about her seventh and twentieth regnal years. Its design drew on the neighbouring temple of Mentuhotep II, built centuries earlier, yet the layout of its sanctuaries is distinctive. Facing Karnak across the Nile, it received the barque of Amun-Re during the Beautiful Festival of the Valley and also housed the queen's funerary cult. About two decades after her death, many references to her reign were erased or altered under Thutmose III.
Good to know
- Its ancient name, Djeser-Djeseru, means "Holy of Holies".
- Reliefs on the middle terrace portico record a sea expedition to Punt, bringing back incense, myrrh, ebony, ivory, gold and animals.
- Right beside it stands the Eleventh Dynasty temple of Mentuhotep II, which inspired Hatshepsut's terraced design.
- A causeway links the main temple to its valley temple, about 1 km to the east.
- A Polish-Egyptian mission has been restoring the temple since 1961.
Visiting tips
Arrive soon after opening: the terraces are completely exposed, and midday brings both heat and tour-bus crowds. Allow roughly 45 to 60 minutes, and wear closed, stable shoes with a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. The three terraces are linked by ramps, though the ground can be sandy and uneven, and the upper terrace facing the cliff gives the best photographs. It combines easily with the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon on a single West Bank outing; check opening hours and ticket prices before visiting.