Dendera

Welcome to the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, arguably the most breathtaking and well-preserved temple complex in all of Egypt. Located on the West Bank of the Nile, about 60 kilometers north of Luxor, this site has been a center…

Stepping inside the Great Hypostyle Hall, one is immediately overwhelmed by the 24 massive Hathor-headed columns that support the roof. Each column stands nearly 50 feet tall, with four faces of the goddess staring out in the…

One of the absolute highlights of Dendera is the ceiling of the Hypostyle Hall. For centuries, this ceiling was obscured by a thick layer of black soot, the result of fires built by people who lived inside the temple over the…

Dendera is unique among Egyptian temples for its extensive system of hidden crypts. There are twelve of these underground chambers, built into the very foundation and walls of the temple. …

After exploring the depths of the temple, we ascend one of the two staircases to the roof. One staircase is a spiral, symbolizing the ascent of a bird, while the other is straight, for the descent. …

As we walk back toward the entrance of the complex, we pass the Mamisi, or 'Birth House.' This smaller building was dedicated to the birth of the god Ihy, the son of Hathor and Horus. These birth houses were a common feature of…

Finally, we walk to the rear of the main temple to examine the exterior wall. This is a crucial stop for any student of history, as it features one of the few contemporary depictions of the legendary Cleopatra VII. …

Our exploration of Dendera concludes here, among the massive mud-brick walls that have protected this sanctuary for two thousand years. We have seen the vibrant cosmos on the ceiling, crawled into the hidden crypts of the…