What was the purpose of the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut?

The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut was known in antiquity as Djeser-Djeseru or the Holy of Holies. As with other grand Egyptian monuments, the purpose of the temple was to pay homage to the Gods and chronicle the glorious reign of its builder. The temple was commissioned in 1479 BCE and took around 15 years to complete.

What does the temple of Hatshepsut represent?

The Temple was built to commemorate the achievements of the great Queen Hatshepsut (18th Dynasty), and as a funerary Temple for her, as well as a sanctuary of the god, Amon Ra. In the 7th century AD, it was named after a Coptic monastery in the area, known as the “Northern Monastery”.

What do the reliefs at the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut depicts?

Middle Court. Among the impressive features of Hatshepsut’s temple are the colossal Osiride statues here. What makes these figures unique is that they are depicted grasping four symbols of royal authority and divine power, two in each hand: the ankh and flail in the right and the scepter and crook in the left.

Why did pharaohs build mortuary temples?

Mortuary temples (or funerary temples) were temples that were erected adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, royal tombs in Ancient Egypt. The temples were designed to commemorate the reign of the Pharaoh under whom they were constructed, as well as for use by the king’s cult after death.

Why did Hatshepsut portray herself as a man?

By depicting herself as male, she would become the living embodiment of Horus, a male god. As a male, she could replace the ‘image’ or ‘look’ of Thutmosis III in the religious state rituals which only a king could perform.

What is the kneeling statue of Hatshepsut?

Large Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut ca. 1479–1458 B.C. New Kingdom. On the upper terrace of Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri, the central sanctuary was dedicated to the god Amun-Re, whose principal place of worship was Karnak temple, located across the Nile, on the east bank of the river.

Who destroyed Hatshepsut’s temple?

Thutmose III
Hatshepsut died in 1458 B.C.E. and was buried in the Valley of the Kings. Although she went to great lengths to be remembered after her death, Thutmose III carried out a sweeping campaign to destroy her legacy 20 years later. He crushed her statues, defaced her images, and erased her cartouche.

Was Hatshepsut the first female pharaoh?

Did you know? Hatshepsut was only the third woman to become pharaoh in 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, and the first to attain the full power of the position.