History:

is a temple located in the small town of Dendera, Egypt. It was dedicated to the goddess Hathor, who was associated with both motherhood and fertility. The temple of Dendera has a series of reliefs, depictions, images and inscriptions that are related to the rituals of worship that took place there. It was built in the Ptolemaic Dynasty in the late 3rd century BC. The temple has two main structures – the Outer Temple and the Inner Temple. The Outer Temple consists of a series of colonnades with images of deities, a hypostyle hall and a birth room that served as the place for childbirth rituals. The Inner Temple, which is more elaborately decorated, includes a number of shrines, a sacred lake and a large vaulted ceiling. It is one of the best temple in Egypt which you must visit.

Facts:

1. The Temple of Hathor is located at the ancient archaeological site of Dendera in Egypt on the west bank of the Nile River in the north west corner of the country. 2. Constructed near the end of the reign of Pharaoh Cleopatra VII in the 1st century BC, the temple was dedicated to Hathor, the joyous goddess of love, fertility, and music. 3. It was used as a place of worship for both royalty and commoners alike for centuries until it was eventually neglected and abandoned during the Roman period. 4. The temple was rediscovered in modern times and is now a tourist destination and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 5. The temple complex consists of a large courtyard surrounded by different structures, including a central temple, four subsidiary temples, an ancient mammisi (birth house), and chapels. 6. An important feature of the temple is the raised platform and raised processional way that lead to the inner chambers of the building, enabling celebrations to take place in the courtyard. 7. The temple walls and columns are beautifully decorated with painted hieroglyphs. One of the most iconic images is of a goddess, believed to be Isis, riding a boat in the night sky filled with stars, various animals, and other symbols of the gods. 8. There is also an interesting astronomical ceiling in the temple, known as the Dendera zodiac, depicting a stone carved image of the night sky. It is the only one of its kind in Egypt and is the oldest known complete image of an entire celestial map. Here are some facts about the Egypt temple.These facts will help you understand why it is oldest temple list of the best temples in Egypt

Worship Method:

The temple of Hathor at Dendera has been worshipped for thousands of years by the ancient Egyptians. In the ancient world, the gods and goddesses were oftentimes associated with astrology and the nightly sky, and Hathor is no exception. The main temple, located on the west bank of the Nile, is oriented towards the sky, allowing for alignment with the stars and astronomical sightings associated with the goddess. The other three sides of the temple are oriented to the cardinal directions: north, south, and east. Solar worship was also crucial to the cult worship of Hathor, and the sun's north-south course may have been tracked from within the temple. Offerings, prayers, chants, and music could all be part of the temple worship. This most visited temple in Egypt

Opening Timing:

The Temple of Hathor at Dendera is open daily from 6am to 6pm. top temples in Egypt

How to reach:

The Temple of Hathor at Dendera is located on the west bank of the Nile River, about halfway between the cities of Luxor and Qena. The best way to reach the site is by car from Luxor or from Qena by taxi or bus. In Luxor, you can find taxis and tour operators offering trips to Dendera. From Qena, you can catch a taxi or take a minibus. The journey takes approximately 1 hour. Once at Dendera, you can explore the temple complex on foot or by hiring a horse-drawn carriage. famous temples in Egypt