To the left (south) of the Punt colonnade stands a shrine dedicated to Hathor, perhaps the most important goddess worshipped in the Dayr al-Bahari area. Her pride of place among goddesses at Thebes was underscored by the fact her shrine could be accessed by means of its own ramp from the lower terrace. The shrine has two halls, now badly destroyed, the first with eight pillars and eight sixteen-sided columns, the second with sixteen sixteen-sided columns. Each has a Hathor-headed capital showing the goddess with a human head and bovine ears and a sistrum on her head. Two engaging reliefs on the rear (west) wall show figures of Hathor as a cow licking the royal hand. The text reads: “To kiss the hand, to lick the divine flesh; to endow the king with life and purity.” Adjacent to this, another figure of Hatshepsut holds an oar and a carpenter’s square.

 Hatshepsut kneels and drinks from the udder of a Hathor-cow, as the goddess boasts, “I have suckled your Majesty with my breasts. I have filled you with my intelligence, with my water of life and happiness. I am your mother, who formed your limbs and created your beauties.” On the right (north) wall there is a particularly well carved and painted figure of Hathor as a cow with horns and a sun disk on her head, and a major naval procession and military parade.

Beyond the pillared halls, a three-room chapel was cut into the mountainside. It is currently closed to the public. But peer through the doorway to see the brightly-painted and well-preserved scenes of Hatshepsut and Thutmes III before various deities. Not visible, unfortunately, is a small figure of the queen’s architect Senenmut, who some believe was her lover, carved behind the door.

From" The Illustrated Guide to Luxor" by kent R.Weeks ,published by the American University in Cairo Press. Copyright © 2005 White Star S.p.a