The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, one of Ancient Egypt's most stunning architectural feats, is located at Deir el-Bahari on the west bank of the Nile, near the Valley of the Kings. Commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut, the fifth pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty and the second confirmed female pharaoh in history, construction began in 1479 B.C. and took approximately fifteen years to complete.
Hatshepsut's reign is noted as a period of prosperity and peace for Egypt. The temple, dedicated to the god Amun and to Hatshepsut herself, features three layered terraces that rise 29.5 meters (97 ft). Its design includes pylons, spacious courts, a hypostyle hall, a sun court, a chapel, and a sanctuary.
Long ramps connect the terraces, which were once surrounded by lush gardens filled with exotic plants like frankincense and myrrh trees. Notably, the temple is aligned with the winter solstice sunrise, incorporating a unique light-box mechanism that allows sunlight to travel along the temple’s central axis. This illumination highlights the figure of Amun-Ra, followed by the kneeling figure of Thutmose III, and finally the Nile god Hapi, creating a breathtaking spectacle that celebrates both the divine and the legacy of Hatshepsut.
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