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Deir el-Bahri is the name of a complex of
tombs and mortuary temples situated on the Nile West Bank in
Egypt and literally it means the Northern Monastery. The
Mentuhotep II mortuary temple from the 11th Dynasty was the
first monument that was built in Deir el-Bahri. More
constructions on this site were made by Hatshepsut and Amenhotep
I in the 18th Dynasty. The two buildings are very different, the
temple of Hatshepsut having a colonnaded terrace. The terraces
are in number of 3, layered and reaching a height of 30 meters.
A double colonnade of piers articulates each terrace, excepting
the central terrace’s North-West corner, which has Proto-Doric
columns to sustain the chapel. Long ramps make the connection
between the terraces; the ramps used to be surrounded by
gardens. The Hatshepsut temple’s layering corresponds with the
Theban form, employing chapel, sun court, pylon, hypostyle hall,
sanctuary and courtsAs regarding the hieroglyphic decorations,
inside the temple of Hatshepsut is a relief sculpture that
recites the pharaoh’s divine birth tale. The pictorial cycle and
the text speak about the expedition to an exotic country called
Land of Punt and situated on the Fred Sea coast. Pillars painted
with images of Hathor are situated on the sanctuary entrance
either side and a image of Wadjet is under the roof. Two Osiris’
statue was once held by Deir el-Bahri temple, as well as some
sculptures of Hatshepsut in attitudes like kneeling, standing or
sitting and a long avenue with sphinxes. In the temple is an
image of Hatshepsut as a man that gives offerings to Horus and a
image of a tall staff that may be a sea lion or a seal.
Unfortunately, the ornamentation and the statues were destroyed
or stolen. |
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