Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut

Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut. Near Luxor, Egypt. New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty. c. 1473–1458 B.C.E. Sandstone, partially carved into a rock cliff, and red granite.


  • MIDDLE KINGDOM AND NEW KINGDOM 
  • GRANITE SCULPTURE
  • HATSHEPSUT
  • FEMALE PHARAOH 
  • DIVINE BIRTH, ORACLE PREDICTED SHE WOULD BECOME KING
  • COMMISSIONED TEMPLES, SCULPTURES
  • POWER OF ART TO CONVEY ROYAL AUTHORITY
  • SCULPTURE MADE FOR TEMPLE, 10+ OF THESE
  • SPHINX 
  • AGAINST VAST CLIFF FACE 
  • TOWERING CLIFF
  • REGULAR ORDER AND STRUCTURE OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT
  • PERMANENCE, STABILITY
  • TRYING TO ASSERT STABILITY THROUGH ARCHITECTURE 
  • ADOPTS PAST FORMS TO SHOW HERSELF AS KING
  • SYMMETRY, STONE, SENSE OF TIMELESSNESS
  • HEAD CLOTH SYMBOL OF KING, BEARD 
  • VISUAL LANGUAGE OF KINGSHIP 
  • MASCULINE 
  • BROAD SHOULDERS
  • FEMININITY DEEMPHASIZED 
  • BREASTS REDUCED 
  • CO-RULER DESTROYED MANY HATSHEPSUT RELATED PIECES
  • OFFERING TO GOD
  • SEEN IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT 
  • ENORMOUS POWER, INFLUENCE; SCULPTURE, ARCHITECTURE 
  • SET IMPORTANT STANDARD FOR NEW KINGDOM 
  • EXPRESSING POWER OF KING
  • TIMELESSNESS, ETERNITY, PERMANENT 
  • KING ALSO A GOD