THE HATSHEPSUT TEMPLE

The Hatshepsut temple is situated in Western Thebes, a capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom. The Arabic name of the complex — Deir al Bahri, comes from the monastery built during the Coptic era. The temple, known as Djeser-Djeseru (Holy of holies), was built by Queen Hatshepsut, a regent for Thutmose III. It took 15 years to finish the construction of the temple and it is considered one of the most beautiful temples of Ancient Egypt.

The location of the temple is not random; it was built in the valley which was believed to be sacred for 500 years to the feminine goddess of the funeral world, and in a straight line only a few hundred meters away from the tomb which the queen had ordered to be excavated for herself in the Valley of the Kings, on the other side of the mountain.