Temple of Hathor
The Temple of Hathor dominates the Dendra Temple complex. Lying southeast of the small town of Dendera, the complex is surrounded by a mudbrick wall. The earliest evidence of a building on the complex is about 2250 BC. An oasis on the banks of the Nile, Dendera at its peak was inhabited by thousands. Today the earliest surviving building is a small built by Nectanebo II during his reign from 360-343 BC.

The Temple of Hathor began construction in 54BC under the reight of Ptolemy Auletes. As with most ancient Egyptian structures, it was countinuously modified until the time of the Roman Emperor Trajan in 98 AD. It was built to honor the goddess Hathor, a major deity in ancient Egypt associated with joy, love, music, motherhood, and fertility. Hathor is often depicted as a cow or a woman with cow ear and represent the benevolent side of female power.

The Temple is known for the Ptolemaic Egyptian wall painting of Cleopatra VI. And on the exterior of the Temple is a carving of Cloepatra VII (the one in the movies) and her son Ptolemy XV, son of Julius Ceasar.



Temple of Luxor
Constructed in c.1500 BC, the Temple of Luxor is located on the east bank of the Nile in the city of Luxor, known in ancient times as Thebes. Contrary to other temples, Luxor is not dedicated to a single deity. Instead Luxor Temple was built for the worship of Amon-Ra, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu, a trinity known as the Theban Triad.