Dendera (Tentyris, Tentore) 
The remains of ancient Dendera (Greek Tentyris, Coptic Tentore) are prominently situated on the west bank of the Nile opposite the town of Qena, at a wide bend in the river. This was one of the most ancient and most famous of Egyptian cities, capital of the sixth nome of Upper Egypt. The Greek and modern Arabic names of the site are derived from its ancient designation of Yunet or Yunet Tantere ("Yunet of the Goddess", i.e. Hathor).
When, in ancient times, the economic center of the area and the bulk of the population moved from the west bank of the Nile to Qena on the east bank Yunet Tantere remained the principal center of the cult of Hathor, goddess of love and joy, who was equated with the Greek Aphrodite.
When, in ancient times, the economic center of the area and the bulk of the population moved from the west bank of the Nile to Qena on the east bank Yunet Tantere remained the principal center of the cult of Hathor, goddess of love and joy, who was equated with the Greek Aphrodite.
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The splendid temple in which she was worshiped together with her husband, the falcon headed Horus of Edfu, and her youthful son Ihi (or Harsomtus), god of music, is one of the best preserved in Egypt. The principal ceremonies in her honor coincided with the great New Year festival.
The Site
From the rest house on the left bank of the river a road, once flanked by columns, leads to the north entrance to the temple precinct (315yd/290m by 305yd/280 m), which is enclosed by a wall of bricks made from Nile mud, 33-39ft/ 10-12m thick at the base and well preserved to a height of some 33ft/10m.
The Site
From the rest house on the left bank of the river a road, once flanked by columns, leads to the north entrance to the temple precinct (315yd/290m by 305yd/280 m), which is enclosed by a wall of bricks made from Nile mud, 33-39ft/ 10-12m thick at the base and well preserved to a height of some 33ft/10m.
Related Attractions
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Dendera - Animal Cemeteries
To the west of the ancient city, of which practically no trace remains, were animal cemeteries containing the mummies of dogs, birds and cows.
Dendera - Chapel of King Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II
A small chapel of King Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (11th Dynasty) which formerly stood to the west of the Temple of Hathor, within the temple precinct, is now reconstructed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Dendera - Coptic Church
Immediately south of the birthhouse we come to a large Coptic church of the late fifth C., an excellent example of the layout of an early Egyptian church. The entrance, at the northwest corner, leads into a vestibule (with a round headed recess) and beyond this into the narthex, which occupies the whole breadth of the church and has semicircular recesses at the north and south ends. To the west are a number of small chambers and a staircase. From the narthex three doorways lead into the nave, in the walls of which are rectangular recesses. At the far end is the trilobate sanctuary, with small rooms on either side.
Dendera - Gateway
Within the enclosure are a number of other shrines in addition to the main temple. The monumental gateway dates from the reign of the Emperor Domitian (A.D. first C.), who is named in an inscription with the style Germanicus. In inscriptions on the inner side the Emperors Nerva (also with the style Germanicus) and Trajan (who is given the epithet Dacicus as well as Germanicus) are also mentioned. Outside the gateway, to the right and left, are two Late Roman wells. There is a similar gateway on the east side of the precinct and a third, dating from the Imperial period, outside the walls to the east.
Dendera - Sacred Lake
At the southwest corner of the Temple of Hathor is the Sacred Lake, a deep basin enclosed by walls of dressed stone, with flights of steps leading down into it at the four corners. Doorways on the north and south sides give access to staircases within the masonry of the walls leading down to water at a lower level.
Dendera - Temple Ruins
Near this Sanctuary of Hathor were found remains of another temple complex, perhaps dedicated to Horus of Edfu, together with several tombs and mastabas (some of them of considerable size) belonging to high officials of the Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period.
Dendera - Temple of Isis
On a high terrace at the south end of the Temple of Hathor is the Temple of Isis or "Birth House of Isis", built in the reign of Augustus, using fragments of masonry from an earlier temple of the Ptolemaic period. It has the curious feature that while the main temple is oriented to the east its western half (destroyed), in which was the representation of the birth of Isis, is oriented to the north; the entrance is on the north side. To the east of the Temple of Isis was another temple of some size, only the foundations of which are preserved, consisting of a forecourt, a hall with four columns and various subsidiary chambers.
