GCXAZY THE TEMPLE OF QUEEN HATSHEPSUT (Traditional Cache) in Egypt created by maty

This cache has been archived.

Fish Eagle: This listing encourages virtual logging which is not permitted, so I'm archiving it.

Andy
Geocaching.com Cache Reviewer for Africa

GCXAZY ▼

A cache by maty Message this owner

Hidden : 7/24/2006

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because of terrorists attacks it could be dangerous to handle with unusual boxes...hence take a photo of stone, where was original cache placed together with you or your GPS, upload and log as Found it. Enjoy !
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Short description:

Hatshepsut was the most famous of the female pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. Her reign was the longest of all the female pharaohs, and her temple still stands as a tribute to her incredible rise to power. She was the the queen who became king. The temple is located close to the Valley of the Kings, Luxor. It is partly cut into the cliff face and partly free-standing. It is quite a spectacular sight from from a distance, and well worth the walk from the car park, and the climb up the steps to the temple. Once you get up to the temple there is also a great view looking back across the valley.

THE TEMPLE OF QUEEN HATSHEPSUT

The temple of queen Hatshepsut - The Temple of El Deir El Bahari

The Temple of Deir El-Bahri is one of the most characteristic temples in the whole of Egypt, due to its design and decorations. It was built of limestone, not sandstone like most of the other funerary temples of the New Kingdom period.

It is thought that Senimut, the genius architect who built this temple, was inspired in his design by the plan of the neighbouring mortuary temple of the 12th Dynasty King, Neb-Hept-Re. The temple was built for the great Queen Hatshepsut (18th Dynasty), to commemorate her achievements and to serve as a funerary temple for her, as well as a sanctuary of the God, Amon Ra.

In the 7th century AD, it was named after a Coptic monastery in the area, known as the “Northern monastery”. Today it is known as the Temple of Deir El-Bahri, which means in Arabic, the “Temple of the Northern monastery”. There is a theory suggesting that the temple, in the Early Christian Period, was used as a Coptic monastery.

This unique temple reflects clear ideas about the serious conflict between Hatshepsut, and her nephew and son in law, Tuthmosis III, since many of her statues were destroyed, and the followers of Tuthmosis III damaged most of her Cartouches, after the mysterious death of the queen.

The temple consists of three imposing terraces. The two lower ones would have once been full of trees. On the southern end of the 1st colonnade there are some scenes, among them the famous scene of the transportation of Hatshepsut’s two obelisks.

On the north side of the colonnade there is a scene that represents the Queen offering four calves to Amon Ra.

The 2nd terrace is now accessed by a ramp; originally it would have had stairs. The famous Punt relief is engraved on the southern side of the 2nd colonnade. The journey to Punt (now called Somalia) was the first pictorial documentation of a trade expedition recorded, and discovered, in ancient Egypt; until now. The scenes depict in great detail, the maritime expedition that Queen Hatshepsut sent, via the Red Sea, to Punt, just before the 9th year of her reign (1482 B.C) This famous expedition was headed by her high official, Pa-nahsy, and lasted for 3 years. His mission was to exchange Egyptian merchandise for the products of Punt, especially gold, incense and tropical trees.

To the south there is the shrine of Hathor. The court that leads to this chapel has columns, where Hathor, who is shown with a woman’s face and cow’s ears, is carrying a sistrum (a musical tool); on the walls she is depicted as a cow. In this part of the Temple, King Tuthmosis III erased the Queen’s names.

On the northern side of the 2nd colonnade, there is a scene depicting the divine birth of Hatshepsut. The Queen claimed that she was the divine daughter of Amon Ra to legitimise her rule.

Beyond the colonnade to the North are the chapel of Anubis, god of mummification and the keeper of the necropolis.

The 3rd terrace is also accessed by a ramp! It consists of two rows of columns, the front ones taking the Osirid form (a mummy form); unfortunately Tuthmosis III damaged them. The columns at the rear, sadly, have all been destroyed; also by Tuthmosis III!

The colonnade, which leads to the sanctuary of the temple, has also been severely damaged. This sanctuary consists of two small chapels.

In the Ptolemaic period, a third chapel was added to the sanctuary which was also decorated with various scenes, the most remarkable being the ones representing Amenhotep, son of Habo (18th Dynasty) who, like Imhotep from the 3rd Dynasty, was another genius architect from Ancient Egypt.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Tb oruvaq 3eq naq 4gu pbyhzaf sebz yrsg va tebhaqsybbe. Pnpur vf cynprq haqre ovt fgbar jvgu yrtf - ercynpr fznyyre fgbar orgjrra jnyy naq ovt fgbar naq lbh unir gb svaq pnpur:) (hfr fcbvyre !!!)

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)