Deir el-Bahri is located on the
west bank of the Nile River. There it sits greeting spectators
as they enter the Valley of the Kings. The site is comprised of
three temples, the Mortuary Temple of Mentuhotep II, the
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Mortuary Temple of
Thutmoses III. Of all the temples present, the most viewed and
admired is that of Hatshepsut.
Mortuary Temple of Mentuhotep II is called Akh Sut Nebhepetra,
which means, “Splendid are the places of Nebhepetre.” This
temple is the best preserved structure of the Early Middle
Kingdom and it sits southwest of Hatshepsut’s Temple.
The temple of Mentuhotep II is recognized as one of the first
temples in Thebes. Because of this it has undergone many
excavations. This temple was excavated by the Egypt Exploration
Fund, by the Metropolitan Museum, and by German archeologists.
This temple was once believed to have had a pyramid and is one of Egypt’s more popular sites. Hatshepsut's temple
is centered at the bottom of surrounding cliffs.
The appearance is dramatic and the temple is architecturally
The temple complex is known as Djeser-Djeseru meaning "the
sublime of sublimes.” It was drafted and constructed by her
architect Senemut. The temple was done to honor Amun, but other
gods were honored there as well. The site consists of colonnaded
terraces and ramps that lead to each tier of the temple. These
ramps were once believed to have gardens. The total height is of
this temple is 97 feet tall.