The Enigmatic Temple of Hathor
Not your garden variety ancient Egyptian monument
There were a lot of rules in ancient Egypt. Many of them revolved around how to record the accomplishments of famous people and events, and how to pictorialize those people and events in monuments. When I say ‘famous’, I mean exclusively those of royal blood, or individuals whose luck, hard work, or connections brought them into the sphere of the ruling class.
And then there are those who, by political force, created for themselves a narrative that simulated the Pharaonic god-kings, but long after those Pharaohs were themselves ancient history.
Two hours north of Luxor is such a dedication, near the town of Dendera, on the Nile’s west bank. It is called the Dendera Temple Complex, of which the Temple of Hathor is the main attraction. I took a taxi there during a trip to Egypt last year. Unlike the tourist mobs swarming over Karnak and Luxor Temples, here I saw only a few people wandering around. The monument does not figure into most organized tour itineraries. It allowed for a much more relaxing viewing experience.
The first structures at this site date back to Old Kingdom Egypt, but the temple as it stands today was constructed in 54 BCE, under the reign of King Ptolemy XII (Ptolemy Auletes), long after the last native Egyptian…
