King Thutmosis III expanded his temple with spoils of war

King Thutmosis III built the Mortuary Temple of Thutmose III, also known as Henket-ânkh, on the western side of the river at Thebes. Located near the site of Deir el-Bahari, the temple was designed as a sanctuary for the god Amon. While the exact start of construction is unknown, the building was already in use by the sixteenth year of his reign, as it is mentioned in records as a place for offerings.

As the king won victories during his third Asian campaign, he used the resulting funds to develop the cult and expand the temple's space. He wanted the building to appear less modest than his colossal complex at Deir el-Bahari. The temple features two levels of different heights, with the difference in height expressed through three courts arranged one behind the other. It measured approximately 33.6 meters wide and 50.92 meters deep.

The central space of the temple was intended for the temporary storage of the barque of Amon during festivals, serving as the Holy of Holies. Most of the masonry has since vanished, and reconstruction from the remaining sandstone and limestone remains is only possible approximately. The temple was later dismantled under Ramses II, who reused some of the construction elements for the nearby Ramessaeum.

In this sanctuary, Amon was worshipped in various forms, including Amon-Min and Amon-Rê, alongside other deities like Seth, Nephthys, and Horus. A special sanctuary for Hathor was also included, where a broken double statue of Hathor and Thutmosis III was discovered. The king was described there as loved by both Amon and Hathor, reflecting a cult where the king's worship was closely tied to that of the gods.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons