The temple of Queen Hatshepsut, whose photo can be found in every guide to Egypt, is no less picturesque than the pyramids. What can I say about the heaps of stones - the tombs of the conceited rulers of the Nile Valley, when the memorial temple of the first woman-pharaoh delights with her beauty and grandeur. Everything in it is special: location, architecture, method of construction, decoration. But first things first.
You will find the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in an amazing location: near the cliffs of Deir al-Bahri. This is a rather complex structure carved into the rock. At the entrance to the multi-story building, rectangular columns are located.
Hatshepsut is not only the first queen of the ancient country, she is one of the seven rulers that history knows about. All the other pharaohs were men, so it was especially difficult for her not only to gain power, but also to keep it in her hands. The daughter of Thutmose I, the wife of Thutmose II and aunt Thutmose III, she was distinguished by the fact that she peacefully led the vast kingdom, rebuilt it and raised it. That is why all of Egypt loves her so much . The temple of Queen Hatshepsut represents the greatness of the mind and the foresight of the pharaoh. He talks about the impeccable taste of one of the most beautiful women (as she called herself).
Jeser Jesueru (the most sacred of the sacred), or, simply, the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, can be found on a wide alley, which is guarded by ram-headed sphinxes. Previously, the entire complex had a bright design, and in front of the building was a huge garden. Rare plants grew in it, and two blue lakes (also revered as sacred) were pleasing to the eye.
The temple of Queen Hatshepsut itself consists of three open areas (or terraces), crowned with columns and interconnected by inclined roads (ramps). The walls are decorated with a traditional relief, which symbolized Upper and Lower Egypt, their unity (first floor). On the second floor you can see a composition telling about the birth of the queen, her divine origin. Hatshepsut herself is often portrayed in a masculine manner: in appropriate clothing, with a false beard. By this, she wanted to emphasize the legitimacy of her power, her right to the throne. The walls of the temple also perpetuated the deeds of the queen: her expedition to the fabulously wealthy country of Punt, a military campaign.
It has the temple of Queen Hatshepsut of the sanctuary of Anubis and Hathor, and its upper part is completely dedicated to the gods. The sanctuary of Amun-Ra every year hosted an important holiday, since they brought here a statue of Amun from Karnak. The beautiful Valley Festival is captured on the walls of the building. It symbolized the cyclical rebirth of a new life.
The creator of the delightful memorial temple of the first Egyptian queen is considered to be the architect Senmouth. He was the favorite of the pharaoh and the educator of her daughter, and his image can also be found on the walls. After the death of Hatshepsut, important priests were buried in the complex, new reliefs and statues appeared. People came here with aspirations for recovery, the realization of a cherished dream. And although many details of the decor were exported from Egypt, little by little the magnificent temple is being revived thanks to the efforts of restorers.