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Dendera complex

We do not exaggerate when we say “Egypt is beautiful”, as it is full of archaeological and historical places and tourist attractions that many people from different parts of the world come to visit. Today we will shed light on one of these places, which is "Dandara Temple".

 

A temple in which more than one ruler participated in its construction, as during the first century BC, Ptolemy III began building it, and part of it was completed by Ptolemy XI. Many additions were made to it by the Roman rulers of the Ptolemies, and its construction was completed during the reign of The Roman Emperor "Augustus".

 

It was built primarily, on the west bank of the Nile, about 5 km northwest of the city of Qena, to worship the Egyptian god of love, beauty and family, "the goddess Hathor". It is one of the most famous preserved temples in Egypt, and it is one of the few temples in which two trinities are worshiped, the first: the Trinity of Hathor, and the second: the Osiris trinity. Also, it ranks fifth in the list of the seven astronomical wonders of ancient Egypt announced by the Egyptian Association for Tourism and Archaeological Development in 2018.

 

When you visit it, you will realize that it is an icon in architecture, as your eyes will fall on its walls and columns decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions and statues engraved with precision and beauty. And if you look up, you will find ceilings decorated with more than wonderful astronomical views and you should know that you can reach the upper ceiling by stairs decorated with scenes of priestly processions ascending on the stairs, and priests carrying statues of Hathor in pharaonic inscriptions representing New Year's celebrations. This is in addition to its catacombs built into the walls and foundations. The basement is the place designated for festive celebrations in ancient Egypt, and precious statues and valuable tools are kept inside.

 

Among the things that distinguish this temple, is that it has a set of astronomical phenomena, including: the noon sun perpendicular to an inscription representing the goddess "Hathor", and the sun perpendicular to the cabin of Emperor "Augustus".