Denderah City and Temple

Location	26.1 N - 32.39 E Upper Egypt - 60 km north of Thebes West bank of Nile
Nome	The crocodile - the 6th nome of Upper Egypt
Type of Settlement	Religious Center
Necropolis	Remains of Old Kingdom tombs scattered in the desert On the west end of the necropolis are brick-vaulted catacombs of Late Kingdom animal burials, primarily birds, dogs and cows.
Local deity	Hathor
Ancient name	Egyptian - Iunet Greek - Tentyris
Historical Development	The city was a religious center of Hathor worship, but never an important political center The population of the town has, since antiquity, moved to Qena across the Nile on the east bank.
The Temple	One of the best preserved of all the temples in Egypt, dedicated to Hathor, and built by Ptolemy VIII Physcon and later elements were added by the Romans. The complex included two birth houses, a sacred lake, two chapels dedicated to Osiris and Isis. The complex was surrounded by high mud brick walls that were built in alternating concave and convex sections. This produced a wavy structure that is assumed to signify the primordial sea which surrounds the symbolic mound of birth and regeneration on which the temple was built. Architectural Layout: 1) The facade consists of six Hathor-headed columns and a low screen wall. The facade top features a huge curved cornice. 2) The first hypostyle hall containing 18 Hathor columns. The ceiling is divided into seven bands of astronomical figures featuring the goddess Nut, vultures, winged sun-discs and the zodiac. The walls are decorated with scenes of Pharaohs making offerings to Hathor. 3) Smaller hypostyle hall - six smaller Hathor columns support the roof, the walls depict scenes of the Pharaoh involved in ritual foundation ceremonies. 4) Six Store chambers 5) Hall of offerings - here daily rituals were carried out by the priests and priestesses of Hathor 6) Hall of the ennead - here the statues of gods were assembled on festival days 7) The Sanctuary - contained the statue of Hathor. . On either side of the door the Pharaoh is depicted offering a copper mirror to the goddess. 8) A passageway around the sanctuary contains eleven chapels dedicated to various divinities and religious symbols.