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. 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.