Dendera

The Temple of Hathor in Dendera. Photo Templar1307.

Back of Temple of Hathor

Back of the Temple of Hathor. Photo Templar1307.

Wall with reliefs. Photo Templar1307.

Monumental gateway. Photo Templar1307.

Face of Hathor. Photo Templar1307.

Reliefs cover the interior of the temple. Photo Templar1307.

Capitals with faces of Hathor. Photo Andrew.

The Temple of Hathor at Dendera, on the Nile north of Luxor, is one of the latest Egyptian temples. Dedicated to the wife of the god Horus, it was built in Roman times and its decorations include Roman emperors alongside Egyptian gods. Along with Abydos further north, Dendera is a popular day trip from Luxor.

History

The Temple of Hathor was built between 30 BC and 14 AD, making it one of the youngest Egyptian temples. However, it was built on top of an older temple, the date of which remains unclear. It is probable that the design of the later temple is based on that of the older one.

Dendera was an ancient healing center, comparable to a Greek Asklepion or the Catholic Lourdes. Hathor, wife of Horus, was the goddess of the sky, fertility and healing, and the rituals performed by her priestesses included the use of a sistrum, or rattle.

What to See

The Temple of Hathor is boxy in shape and surrounded by a portico with thick columns and walls about half as tall as the roof. There are many reliefs of figures and rituals on the exterior of the temple, including pharaohs, Egyptian deities, and Roman emperors.

Inside, the most fascinating sight is the roof chapel dedicated to Osiris, which contains a sundial and circular zodiac. The zodiac, a replica of the original that is now in the Louvre, consists of two superimposed constellations. One is centered on the geographical north pole, the other on the true north pole. An axis passes through Pisces, confirming what we know from archaeological evidence: it was built in the age of Pisces, just over 2,000 years ago.

Interestingly, two hieroglyphs on the edge of the zodiac seem to indicate that another axis passed through the beginning of the age of Taurus (about 4,000 BC; a thousand years before dynastic Egypt). This may be a clue to the great age of the first temple that stood here.

Among the many other structures here are the remains of a 5th-century Christian basilica, an excellent example of early Coptic church architecture. There is also a sanatorium, where pilgrims could bathe in the sacred waters or take holy water - which had been run over magical texts to infuse it with power - home with them.

Quick Facts

Site Information

Names:	Dendera; Temple of Hathor at Dendera
Dedicated to:	Hathor
Location:	Upper Egypt, Egypt
Category:	Egyptian temples
Faiths:	Original/Primary: Ancient Egyptian Current/Secondary: Ancient Roman
Status:	ruins
Date:	30 BC-14 AD
Architecture:	Egyptian

Visitor Information

Coordinates:

26.165713° N, 32.656458° E (view on Google Maps)

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Location Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of Dendera. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Egypt Map.

Article Sources

Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:

Colin Wilson, Atlas of Holy Places and Sacred Sites (DK, 1996).
Dendera and the Temple of Hathor - Tour Egypt - includes floor plan and site plan

More Information

Article last updated: 07/12/2009.