Medinet Habu – temple of Ramses III

April 10, 2006  by Alex  •  Egypt 2006

The mortuary temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu, built in New Kingdom times on the western bank of the Nile close to Luxor, is a well preserved temple, set within an almost rectangular mudbrick enclosure with a pylon from Ptolemaic times.
The temple features – in order starting at the great entrance – a first courtyard, a second courtyard with a peristyle hall, and a large hypostyle hall at the rear end. Each of the courtyards is guarded by a massive pylon. The whole structure reaches a length of about 150 metres.
Within the enclosure smaller temples of Amenirdis I, Shepenupet II and Nitiqret can be found, as well as a small sacred lake.

I personally was most impressed by the peristyle hall and its detailed reliefs and inscriptions with surviving original colour.

previous articlenext article
 Medinet Habu, entrance with gate-house Medinet Habu, temple near the entrance Medinet Habu, first pylon in early morning Medinet Habu, temple of Ramses III Medinet Habu, temple of Ramses III Medinet Habu, mudbrick enclosure Medinet Habu, first pylon Medinet Habu, Ramses III smiting foes Medinet Habu, palm tree Medinet Habu, outside the large temple Medinet Habu, first courtyard Medinet Habu, first courtyard Medinet Habu, second pylon Medinet Habu, second pylon Medinet Habu Medinet Habu, second courtyard Medinet Habu, second courtyard Medinet Habu, peristyle hall Medinet Habu, peristyle hall Medinet Habu, peristyle hall Medinet Habu, Ramses III and his wife
Leave a comment