MORTUARY TEMPLE OF HATSHEPSUT (DEIR EL- BAHRI)
Set in a curving bank of steep cliffs with a commanding view
of the river valley, the Temple of Hatshepsut was built in perfect harmony with
its majestic surroundings. Seen from a distance, its 3 level façade looks
almost futuristic testimony to the timelessness of great art.
Designed by
Hatshepsuy’s steward and architect Senenmut, it took 8 years and tremendous
manpower to build a fitting tribute to the woman who ruled Egypt as pharaoh for
nearly half a century ( 1503- 1452 BC) : Hatshepsut called it the splendor of
splendors’ and some still consider it one of the most striking architectural
works on earth.
The faces of the statues decorating the colonnades show
traces of ochre, a reminder that these monuments were once vividly colored and
must have presented an even more dazzling spectacle than they do today.
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