Temples of Deir el-Medina

The temples of
Deir el-Medina

The temple complex area of Deir el-Medina is situated at the northern end of the
village. It contains the remains of a number of temples dating from the New Kingdom to
Ptolemaic times. The most prominent one is the Ptolemaic temple dedicated to goddesses
Hathor and Maat. The building itself is small but is one of the best preserved examples
of a temple from that period still standing. It stands within a mud brick enclosure wall.
Its compound embraces the site of several New Kingdom temple structures and small
chapels erected by Deir el-Medina inhabitants.

The page was last modified on October 6th 2008

Sources:
1. Wilkinson, R. H. : The complete temples of Ancient Egypt. London
: Thames & Hudson, 2000.
2. Weeks, K. R. : The treasures of Luxor and the Valley of the
Kings. Vercelli : White Star, 2005.
3. Bourguet, Pierre du: Le temple de Deir al-Medina
Caire : Institut Francais d'Archeologie Orientale, 2002.

The view of the northern side of the
settlement. Within the mud-brick
enclosure wall stands the small
building of the Ptolemaic temple
dedicated to the goddesses Hathor
and Maat (A). The remains of the
temple of Amun and the other
members of the Theban triad (Mut
and Khonsu) stand across the valley
from the Ptolemaic temple enclosure
(B). The site of the temple of
Amenhotep I (C).

The main temple, standing
within the enclosure wall, was
built and decorated in the 3rd
century BC. The work was started
during the reign of Ptolemy IV
Philopater and it was continued for
the next 60 years under Ptolemy
VI Philometer and Ptolemy VIII
Euergetes II... to read more about
the Ptolemaic temple click here