Queen Ahmose

Egypt : Shrine of Hathor Plan - Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir El Bahri) - Part IV

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.

Egypt : Punt Colonnade Plan - Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut Plan (Deir El Bahri) - Part III

Hatshepsut Temple (Deir El-Bahri), Luxor, Egypt:
The Punt Colonnade commemorates an expedition ordered by Queen Hatshepsut to the Land of Punt (in the East Africa\Somalia area) to bring back myrrh and incense trees to be planted on the terraces of the temple. The relief tells us that Amon himself ordered the expedition and it appears that Hatshepsut not only carried out the divine will but made the expedition a major mission.

On the southern wall (II) we can see the village in Punt where the houses are constructed over water with ladders leading up to the entrances. We can see the mayor of the city, the inhabitants, the grazing cattle and even the village dog. The Egyptian envoy and his entourage are greeted in welcome and are shown presenting merchandise for barter. The fat, deformed queen of Punt is there. The hieroglyphics relate that this illustrious monarch traveled by donkey and, with obvious wit, the artists have shown the little donkey itself. Throughout the span of Egyptian history, from pre-dynastic times to the fall of the empire, it was not often that deformed or physically handicapped persons were sculpted or drawn . The few that were belonged to the earlier dynasties and were people of the lower classes. The portrayal of the queen of Punt suffering from the swollen legs of elephantiasis, and without even a royal carriage for transport, makes one feel that neither Hatshepsut nor her artists had much respect for her.

On the back wall at (b) the Egyptian fleet sets sail, arrives in Punt and we see the transportation of the incense trees planted in small tubs (top row) and on board the vessel (lower row). These will be carried back to Deir el Bahri, there to be planted in the court. In tact the roots are still on site to this day. One cannot but feel, divine will not with standing, that more than a little of Hatshepsut's whim and fancy went into the elaboration of the whole mission. In a joyous representation at the center of the long back wall (c) the queen (defaced) can be seen offering the fruits of her expedition to Amon: incense trees, wild game, cattle, electrum and bows. The whole mural speaks of success and pleasure.

Egypt : Lower and Central Courts - Hatshepsut's Temple Plan - Deir El Bahri - Part II

Hatshepsut Temple (Deir El-Bahri), Luxor, Egypt: We ascend the temple of Deir el Bahri from the lower court where two colonnades have been restored. These comprise twenty-two columns on each side arranged in double rows. In the southern colonnade is a scene showing two obelisks being transported by water (those Hatshepsut had erected at Karnak). The first row shows them on the deck of the barge and below a trumpeter leads a group of archers to the inauguration ceremony.
Passing between the two colonnades we come to the central court (Plan 12 A), which leads to the upper terrace. We are now faced with two famous colonnades. On the left (B) is the Colonnade of the Expedition to Punt. On the right (C) is the Birth Colonnade.