Temple of Hathor at Dendara - Imagining Egypt photo collection

Dendara Temple

The well preserved temple of Dendara we see today dates from the Greco Roman period and is surrounded by a mud brick enclosure wall. A temple of one type or another has stood on this site a least since the early New Kingdom and texts in the crypt mention a temple during the Old Kingdom.

The columns of the hypostyle hall have capitals in the form of the head of Hathor. However, the faces have been damaged possibly during the early Christian period when the old gods were reviled. But the rest of the temple is in good condition. There is a stone stairway which leads up to the stone roof where there are small chapels. The one dedicated to Osiris contains a zodiac the original of which is in the Louvre in Paris.

The temple is famous for the carved Relief on its rear wall which depicts Cleopatra together with her son Caesarion whose father was Julius Cesar.

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Dendara Temple

Offerings

Geese

Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs

Goddess Hathor Receiving Offerings

Dendara Temple

The Sacred Lake

View from the rear

Hathor headed Column

Small Roof Chapel (Outside)

Small Roof Chapel (Inside)

Columns of the Hypostyle Hall

Hieroglyphs