The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, known as Djeser-Djeseru—meaning “Holy of Holies”—was built during Egypt’s Eighteenth Dynasty around 1500 BC. Located in the Valley of the Queens, across the Nile from Luxor, it is considered a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture. The temple’s three massive terraces rise from the desert floor and blend seamlessly into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. Hatshepsut’s tomb, KV20, lies within the same mountain massif, topped by El Qurn—a natural peak shaped like a pyramid that symbolically crowns her mortuary complex. The temple’s sculptural style is known as the “Figure of Standing Osiris.” In these statues, Hatshepsut is depicted in the form of the god Osiris: upright and pillar-like, carved from stone, with a mummified appearance to emphasize divine transformation. Her arms are crossed, holding a flail and a short shepherd’s crook—symbols of Egyptian kingship. She wears a long braided beard and the Atef crown, which features a sacred cobra poised to strike, representing royal authority and protection.

Second level ramp incline leading into the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

The ramp is guarded by the god Horus as a falcon and Osiride statues of Hatshepsut

Her tomb, KV20, is the shape of a pyramid for her mortuary complex

Osiride statues of Hatshepsut as upright pillars made of stone supporting the upper terrace

Punt portico of the middle terrace entrance ramp with a gradual incline leading into the temple through a series of terraces

A painted relief of the god Sokaris, presented with offerings of wine by Thutmose III

Balustrade entrance ramp adorned with a Falcon Bird Statue known as The God Horus as protection

Osirian statues at the door entrance to the shrines of Hatshepsut

A Hathor column, the goddess of music, dancing, and maternity maternity

Painted relief of the gods, Solar on the left, Hatshepsut center and Amun on the right

Painted relief of the vulture goddess Nekhbet

Magnificent painted relief of bestowed generous offerings

1.) A Hatshepsut standing Osiris colonnade, wrapped as a mummys,

2.) wearing a broad bead collars, bearded, crook and flail crossed over

3.) her chest, on her head is a Atef and the crown of Upper Egypt

1.) A series of reliefs depict her trading expedition to the Land of Punt -

2.) the soldiers bear tree branches and axes to signify peace -

3.) to the land of Punt located near the red sea on the Horn of Africa

A carved bust of Queen Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut's Chapel of Anubis, the God of The Dead bestowed with generous offerings

A Hatshepsut Standing Osiris column, wrapped as a mummy, wearing a broad bead collar, bearded, crook and flail crossed over her chest, on her head is a Atef and the crown of Upper Egypt