Upper Nile Valley from South of El-Minya to Qena: Abu Tig, Akhmim, El Araba el Madfuna, Asyut, El Badari, Dairut, Durunka, Girga,Hiw, Sohag, Qena, El Qusiya A look at the overall Dendera complex Temple of Dendera This area of the Nile River Valley represents the Northern region of Upper Egypt (Southern). It is interesting from the standpoint that the area contains some of the oldest artifacts and the capital of the Old Kingdom, but also has a rich Christian and Islamic tradition. Dendera is located about 60 kilometers north of Luxor on the west bank of the Nile River opposite the provincial modern town of Qena. Ancient Egyptian Iunet or Tantere, known to the Greeks as Tentyris, was the capital of the 6th nome of Upper Egypt and a town of some importance. The ancient temple lies isolated on the desert edge. Along with the temple itself, there is also a necropolis that includes tombs of the Early Dynastic Period, but the most important phase that has been identified was the end of the Old Kingdom and the 1st Intermediate Period. The approach path to the temple is between two Roman fountains that end at the massive entry gate.The enclosure walls are mud-brick and date to the Roman era. Within the walls are the temple, two birth houses, a Coptic Basilica, a sanitorium, a sacred lake, and a temple to Isis. The temple has a long history. There is evidence that Pepi I (Old Kingdom) rebuilt the temple while other texts refer to reconditioning by Thutmose III, Amenhotep III and Ramesses II and III (of the New Kingdom). Additions were made during the Greek, Roman and Ptolemy periods.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 11:01:48 +0000
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