Sunday, October 5, 2008

Tomb of Hatshepsut

(Read Egyptologist Zahi Hawass's views on the mummy and tomb of Hateshepsut here.)

The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut is located at Deir el-Bhari. Dier el-Bhari is a complex of tombs located opposite the city of Luxor. The temple, titled Djeser-Djeseru ("Splendor of Splendors"), is the focal point of this complex. (source)
Hatshesput was the 5th pharoah to rule in Egypts 18th dyansty. She was one of the most successful pharaohs, as said by most Egyptologists. This is because she ruled longer than any female ruler Egypt had ever seen. Another unique aspect about her reign is that she disguised hersalf as a man. She imposed as a male pharaoh for her entire reign because female rulers were looked down upon at that time.
Hatshepsut composed a large series of building projects while she was in power. One her most signifacant projects being her own mortuary temple, Djeser-Djeseru. This tomb had been built in in the cliffs to detour grave robbers. Yet, the actaul tomb itself had the same layout as most temples located in the Valley of Kings. Once you pass through the entrance, you will reach a door leading to the first corridor of the tomb. This leads to an antechamber, another corridor and then the actual burial chamber, which was never finished. (source)
A 100foot courtyard surrounded the entrance of the tomb, consisting of three smaller courtyards. These courtyards have many stone carvings in them. Most of the carvings of the queen herself were destroyed by her stepson and some of his workers. These courtyards were once filled with trees and lush gardens, and even a man-made oasis. Another unique aspect of this tomb is the fact that if you stood on the cliff above the tomb and looked onto the temple, you would see the Egyptian hieroglyphic for Nun. (source)
Hatshepssuts tomb was found by Howard Carter in 1916. He was alerted at night when he heard what sounded like grave robbers. When he reached the work site, he found the looters at work. The robbers were then scared away but what they were looting led to the discovery of the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut.



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