First look at the temple of Hathor walking toward the north gate
A school group, presumably on a field trip.
Entering the north gate
Some of the older ruins around the temple. Some of these are the remains of the necropolis, and some were housing for the workers
Roman birth house
Farid
Detail of the north gate
Various artifacts in the temple court
Column capital depicting Hathor
North wall of the temple of Hathor
Me in front of the gate
Dwarf God Bes - patron of homes, pregnant women and children. His ugly looks drive away evil spirits or bad influences
Clustered to one side of the temple court are the Roman Birth House (with columns in the distance,) a church of early Christians, The old birth house, and the Sanitarium
Detail of the front of the temple
Going down the side of the temple.
Queen Cleopatra VII and her son depicted on the back wall of the temple. Most of the temple was built during her reign, though it was started around 54 BC under Ptolemy XII
Closer look at Cleopatra relief
Cleopatra's Cartouche. Left cartouche = ptolemys. Right cartouche = cleopatra
Inside of the temple's hypostyle hall. The ceiling is highly decorated and a lot of the original color is still there. Workers here are removing soot and dirt to reveal the decoration.
Detail of a column in the hypostyle hall
This temple was built over the remains of an older one. This looks like it might be the top of an old column.
Longer shot of the buried column in the previoius picture
The Chapel of the New Year. The ceiling of this hall is decorated with a chart of the heavens.
Detail of column of the Chapel of the New Year.
Another detail shot
The sky goddess Nut swallowing the sun (Ra) in the evening to give birth to him again at dawn.
Another ceiling shot showing both the swallowing and rebirth of the sun by the sky goddess Nut
Detail of the same ceiling
A few wall details
Southern wall and south gate taken from the roof of the temple
Entering the room containing the Dendera Zodiac
Zodiac ceiling relief. The signs of the zodiac were introduced by the Romans.
Shot of the zodiac ceiling from the floor
Another shot with a flash
Posing for a picture.
Still on the roof of the temple. A little cultural exchange between tourists.
Ramp/stairs down from the temple roof
A crypt below the temple. It was challenging to get down here, but the wall reliefs are worth it.
