Hatshepsut's Temple Complex

Hatshepsut's Temple Complex

By: Harper Dillon

Nestled in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Djeser Djeseru, otherwise known as the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, is a restored temple commissioned by the pharaoh Hatshepsut to commemorate her reign of Egypt. The temple has two stories with its walls covered with scenes of Hatshepsut’s life, as well as shrines to multiple gods and goddesses like Anubis, the god of the dead, and Hathor, the goddess of fertility (Khan). The style of the temple is unique from others that were visited during our study abroad and is reminiscent of older styles used by Mentuhotep II. The entrances to the floors are rectangular doorways, with a noticeable lack of large columns, as seen in places like Kom Ombo. The whole temple is tucked away into the cliffside, providing a stunning view of the valley below. As mentioned previously, one of the gods Hatshepsut honors in this temple is the goddess Hathor. On the temple's south side, there are many images of Hathor, both as a woman and as a cow. In her human form, Hathor always has her hair tucked behind her ears and has a headdress of cow horns. Hathor, in both her human and cow form, represents fertility, motherhood, and love. She is honored in Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple as the guardian of the Deir el-Bahri area in which the temple is located. Images of her are also carved in the columns, as they are shaped to resemble a sistrum, which is a musical instrument associated with the goddess (University of Memphis). 

Hatshepsut particularly built her mortuary temple to fully solidify her place in history as a pharaoh of Egypt. This is evident with the particular construction of the temple in the Valley of the Kings, next to the Mortuary Temple of Mentuhotep II, an older source of inspiration for Hatshepsut’s temple as Mentuhotep II represented peace and prosperity, much like Hatshepsut’s reign, and it held religious significance since it depicted scenes of pharaohs taking part in religious ceremonies with the gods. This is also seen in Hatshepsut’s temple, as she depicts her birth as divine with images of the good Amun-Re visiting her mother, Ahmose, before her birth (“Hatshepsut.”). To further prove her divine right to rule Egypt, Hatshepsut put multiple large statues of herself on the second floor of her temple. Each statue depicted Hatshepsut in traditionally masculine garb and a fake beard. Even though she was a woman, Hatshepsut commissioned these statues to signify that she was a pharaoh, not a queen, and had the same power as any previous male pharaohs.

Hatshepsut’s twenty-one-year long reign over Egypt started after her husband and half-brother, Thutmose II died. After his death, Thutmose III was to become pharaoh, despite being only three years of age. Hatshepsut ruled in his stead as regent until Thutmose III turned eight, and then she assumed the ruler as his coruler (Rizzo). As pharaoh, Hatshepsut established one of Egypt’s most successful trading expeditions, obtaining valuables like ivory and spices (“Hatshepsut.”). She also commissioned many buildings like Djeser Djeseru, obelisks located in Aswan, and the Temple of Pakhet (“Hatshepsut.”). Her reign, unlike those of previous pharaohs, established a period of peace and prosperity in which Egypt prospered through diplomatic allyships with its neighbors.

However, despite Hatshepsut’s effort to being remembered in Egyptian history and afterlife, her nephew, Thutmose III, with whom she was Queen Regent and then, later, co-ruler of Egypt with, until he seized power over Egypt after her death. After Hatshepsut’s death, Thutmose III started a ruthless political campaign to besmirch her name and image (Khan). Many images of Hatshepsut in her mortuary temple and elsewhere have been completely carved out. This defamation of Hatshepsut’s image was an attempt by Thutmose III to erase her from history and prevent her from existing in the Egyptian afterlife. Regardless of his malicious campaign, Thutmose III was unsuccessful in erasing Hatshepsut completely as her accomplishments and story are still remembered throughout time. 

Works Cited:

“Hatshepsut.” NMEC, nmec.gov.eg/mummies-hall/hatshepsut/. 

Khan, Gulnaz. “Visit the Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor, Egypt.” Travel, 17 July 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/luxor-temple-of-hatshepsut-theban-necropolis. 

Rizzo, Johnna. “Hatshepsut.” National Geographic Kids, 25 Feb. 2020, kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/hatshepsut. 

The University of Memphis. “Thebes - Temple of Hatshepsut.” Memphis.edu, 2019, www.memphis.edu/egypt/resources/colortour/westbank3.php.