The Temple of Tuthmose III is high on the hill at Deir el-Bahri,
squeezed in between Mentuhotep's temple and the Temple of Hatshepsut.
Tuthmose III's Temple of Amun was largely destroyed in antiquity when
it was hidden by a rock fall from the mountain behind. The causeway,
kiosk and Hathor-headed chapel connected to this temple were
previously known about but it was not until 1961-2, during the
restorations of Hatshepsut's neighbouring temple that many of the
columns and wall fragments of this buried temple were uncovered. |
The site of the mortuary temple of Tuthmose III is further to the
south of Deir el-Bahri, closer to the road, though virtually nothing
remains of this now. His Deir el-Bahri temple seems to have been a
cult temple named Djeser-Akhet (Sacred Horizon), dedicated to the god
Amun and possibly used in connection with celebrations of the
'Beautiful Feast of the Valley' during Dynasty XVIII.
Remains of the temple consist mostly of the pillared hall in which
column bases and some of the round columns can still be seen. Some of
the paving in front of the hall is in situ and there are many
scattered blocks and architectural fragments still with reliefs and
texts. The Shrine of Hathor (now in Cairo Museum) was found by Naville
in 1912.
Granite jambs of the doors to the inner chamber were found with the
king's name inscribed as well as several statues of Tuthmose III and
other individuals. Two fragments with beautifully coloured reliefs can
be seen in Luxor Museum.
The wall fragment in the picture above is painted limestone, 58.5cm
high and carved in raised relief. The king wears the elaborate Atef
crown, a royal beard and broad collar. It was found during the
clearance of the temple by the Polish Centre of Archaeology in 1962.
The Kiosk of Tuthmose III was to the east of the temple of Amun, on
the causeway and replaced an original building by Tuthmose I. There
are no remains of the kiosk left today. |
