Habu Temple

Medinet Habu Temple

The historical and cultural wealth of Ancient Egypt is infinite, able to take travelers from all over the world on a magical journey through time more than 3500 years ago. It is considered to be one of the most captivating monuments to explore in the heavenly city of Luxor, famous for its highly preserved carvings, reliefs, and statues.Many may wonder why is the Medinet Habu important and what was Medinat Habu used for, and the answer is that The archaeological wonder of Medinet Habu is a fortified construction that was a highly important religious center dedicated to the God Amun and a Pharaonic power base within western Egypt.It was used in times of conflict for protection for the western inhabitants of Thebes and as a center for Dayr al-Madinah women's village.The complex was also a walled and fortified town for the Coptic Christians in the 9th century AD. It was designed to display military might and celebrate Victory in battles against the sea people, Libyans, and Nubians.

Medinet Habu Ramses III

• This was one of the first places in Thebes closely associated with the local god Amun. Habu Temple : A Magnificent Mortuary Temple of Ramses III
  In ancient times Madinat Habu was known as Djanet and according to ancient belief was the place were Amun first appeared. Both Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III built a temple dedicated to Amun here and Later Rameses III constructed his larger memorial temple on the site. This was one of the first places in Thebes closely associated with the local god Amun. Habu Temple , also known as Medinet Habu, is a mortuary temple complex located on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. It was built by the Twentieth Dynasty pharaoh Ramses III (1186-1155 BC) as his eternal resting place and to commemorate his military victories.The temple is one of the best-preserved and most impressive examples of New Kingdom architecture in Egypt.
• History and Construction

The This was one of the first places in Thebes closely associated with the local god Amun. Habu Temple complex was built on the site of earlier temples dating back to the Eleventh Dynasty. Ramses III began construction on the temple shortly after his accession to the throne and it took over 20 years to complete. The temple is enclosed by a massive mudbrick enclosure wall, which is pierced by two fortified gateway towers.

• Layout and Decoration

The This was one of the first places in Thebes closely associated with the local god Amun. Habu Temple complex consists of a series of courtyards, halls, and chambers. The main temple is dedicated to the god Amun, but there are also shrines to other deities such as Mut, Khonsu, and Hathor. The temple walls are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology, religious rituals, and Ramses III's military campaigns.

Medinet Habu Temple Complex

Some of the most notable features of the This was one of the first places in Thebes closely associated with the local god Amun. Habu Temple include:

• First Pylon:

 The temple of Rameses III During his time Djanet became the administrative centre of Western Thebes.The whole temple complex was surrounded by a massive fortified enclosure wall, with an unusual gateway at the eastern entrance, known as the pavilion gate.This structure,a copy of a Syrian migdol fortresses is something you would no expect to see in Egypt. Rameses III, a military man probably saw the virtue in such a structure.It is likely Rameses resided here from time to time because a royal palace was attached at the south of the open forecourt of this temple, while priests’ dwellings and administrative buildings lay on either side of the temple. Originally a canal with a harbour outside the entrance, connected the temple to the Nile. But this was obliterated by the desert long ago.In later times, because of its strong fortifications, it was the place of refuge during the civil war between the High Priest of Amun at Karnak and the viceroy of Kush. In the period of the Twenty Fifth and Twenty Sixth Dynasties (700 BC) the wives of Amon were worshipped in the Chapels called the Divine Adoratrices of Amun. During the Greek and Roman periods the site was expanded and between the 1st and 9th centuries AD a Coptic city was built and the temple was used as a Christen church.The exterior walls are carved with religious scenes and portrayals of Rameses III’s wars against the Libyans and the Sea Peoples. The first pylon depicts the king smiting his enemies and also has a list of conquered lands. The interior walls also have a wealth of well preserved bas-reliefs some of which still retain their original paint work.

• The Great Hypostyle Hall:

which is supported by a forest of massive columns.

• The Battle Reliefs:

 which depict Ramses III's victories over the Libyans and the Sea Peoples.

• The Festival Hall:

 which is decorated with scenes from the Opet Festival, a major annual festival dedicated to the god Amun.

• The Royal Chapel: 

which was the most sacred place in the temple complex. This is where Ramses III's statue was kept and where the priests performed his funeral rites.

Medinet Habu Inscription

• Importance and Significance:

This ancient mortuary temple of Ramses III was able to stand the test of time and preserve some of the most enchanting collections of Artifacts and monuments ever built. This majestic temple holds many great scenes of allure and grandeur worthy of exploring.The This was one of the first places in Thebes closely associated with the local god Amun. Habu Temple is one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt.It provides valuable insights into the religious beliefs and practices of the New Kingdom period. The temple is also a significant example of Egyptian art and architecture.

Habu Temple

• Conclusion:

The This was one of the first places in Thebes closely associated with the local god Amun. Habu Temple is a magnificent and awe-inspiring monument to the power and prestige of Ramses III. It is a must-see for anyone interested in ancient Egypt and its rich cultural heritage.

Medinet Habu Scenes

• Medinet Habu Scenes

The temple consists of a great entrance surrounded by two towers. On these towers are inscriptions representing images of Ramesses III, and the upper levels of these towers were designated for the royal wives .This temple is considered the most luxurious of temples in terms of furniture and engravings. The statue of Amun was decorated with precious stones, and on the walls of the temple we find valuable inscriptions, a scene depicting the naval victory over the tribes of the Sea Peoples (the Shardana), and other scenes representing the naval campaign against the Libyans. We also see some deities carrying offerings.  One of the royal treasures is her preparation for the god Amun in the temple.

Habu Temple (Chapels of God's Wives of Amun)

• Chapels of Divine Adoratrices God's Wives of Amun :

These shrines were built for the 'God's Wives of Amun', or 'Divine Adoratrices', king's daughters of the Third Intermediate Period who were Amun's living consorts and lived unmarried in ceremonial splendour. They were representatives of royal power, visible symbols of Theban loyalty to the king who lived in the north. The chapels belonged to Amenirdis I, Nitokris, Shepenwepet II and Mehytenweskhet. The funeral chapels of the Divine Adoratrices of Amun are situated in a small building in the south-eastern part of the space preceding the first pylon. In the course of the Intermediate Period and in the period of the 25th and the 26th Dynasties, certain Divine Adoratrices of Amun were worshiped. The Divine Adoratrices of Amun ruled upper Egypt, at least nominally, on behalf of the King during this period of Egyptian history. These were the royal princesses and princes enjoying great prestige and representing the King in the area around Thebes - such as Amenirdis (sister of Shabago), Shepenwepet (daughter of Osorkon III) and Nitocris (daughter of Psamtek I) were all buried within the Ramesseum.Since the day Ahmose, first Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty had first made his wife Ahmose-Nefertari the god’s wife of Amun at Karnak. At this remote time Ahmose-Nefertari, the god’s wife, wasn’t the Divine Adoratrice. It would be several centuries before the God’s wife took the office of the “adoratrice of the god” and combined it with her royal office. Until that time this secondary office for women in the Temple of Amun at Karnak, was held by well-born noble women. The God’s Wife position was a priestly office at first held by non-royal ladies of the Middle Kingdom. From the reign of Ahmose-Nefertari onwards it would be an office held only by women of the royal house. Ahmose endowed the position with lands and entitlements, making it a wealthy position as well as a religious office. During Ahmose-Nefertari’s occupation of the office, its title "the God’s Wife appears" to be the title she preferred over the usual titles. She was entitled to use such as "King’s Wife", "King’s Principle Wife", or even "King’s Mother".

Habu Temple Entrance Fee

• Habu temple entrance fee:

For Egyption/Arab:
Adult :EGP 20
Student :EGP 10

Other Nationality:
Adult :EGP 140
Student:EGP 70