Hatshepsut Temple (Deir El-Bahri), Luxor, Egypt:
To the left of the Colonnade of Punt stands the Shrine of Hathor (D) . It has two roofed-in colonnades with Hathor columns leading to the shrine itself which comprises three chambers, one behind the other , and each with several recesses. In the colonnaded court is a large sacrificial scene on the southern wall (d) showing a boat containing the Hathor-cow with Queen Hatshepsut drinking from the udder. On the rear western wall is a representation of Thutmose II (replacing Hatshepsut) having his hand licked by the Hathor-cow.In the first chamber (e) Hatshepsut or Thutmose III is represented with several of the deities. The color is excellent, especially on the ceiling which is decorated with stars on a blue sky. The second room (f) shows Hatshepsut (scraped) making offerings to Hathor. who stands on the sacred barge beneath the canopy. This
is a relief of unusual beauty. Ehi, son of Horus, is the little nude boy who holds a sistrum in front of the queen. The third room (g) has an unusual pointed roof and the wall reliefs show Hatshepsut (on each of the side walls) drinking from the udder of the cow, Hathor, with Amon standing before them. On the back wall is another particularly beautiful relief of Hatshepsut standing between Hathor and Amon with the latter holding before her face the hieroglyph symbol of life.
