Medinet Habu Temple, Luxor | Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III

Medinet Habu Medinet Habu is an archaeological site in the west bank of the Nile River at Luxor, Egypt. The most known is the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III, which was one of the best-preserved and impressing temples of ancient Egypt.

Where Is Medinet Habu Located?

Situated on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor, The Medinet Habu Temple is one of the most impressively preserved temple complexes in all of Egypt. Constructed in the 12th century BC under the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses III, it was both a mortuary temple for the king and a place of worship dedicated to the god Amun.

Medinet Habu Mortuary Temple Of Ramses III

The Temple of Habu is seen as one of the largest funerary temples dedicated in memory of kings in the New Kingdom. It was built at the start of King Ramesses III reign, as a funerary temple.The temple was supervised by Amun-Mes, the treasurer of the Temple of Amun. The temple area is approximately 320 meters long from east to west and 200 meters wide from north to south. It is seen as the only fortified Temple of Habu. The Temple of Habu was likely built in two parts. The first part included the construction of the temple and its annexes inside the outer wall. The second phase was likely started during the second half of the reign of Ramesses III. The outer wall would have been constructed with its two no-reinforced gates on the east and west sides. Between the two walls, to the north and south were the lodgings of the priests and temple administrators.

Medinet Habu Temple Name

The full formal name of the temple was "The Temple of WESR-MAET-RA Meaning 'United-with-Eternity'

Who Built The Temple At Medinet Habu?

Ramesses III was the second Pharaoh of the Twenty Dynasty. His rule is dated from 26 March 1186 to 15 April 1155 BC, and he was the last pharaoh of the New Kingdom .His protracted rule witnessed the effects of Egyptian political and economic decline, coursed in part by a series of invasions and nationalistic demands contributing to the same economic hardships seen during those pharaohs who reigned just before him. Rameses III erected one of the largest mortuary temples in western Thebes, which is now called Medinet Habu. He was the victim of a palace conspiracy in The Harem that was organized by his second wife Tiye and her eldest son Pentawere. This caused a dynastic dispute, aggravating the decline of Ancient Egypt. His son Ramesses IV succeeded him, as did several of his other sons.

Medinet Habu Sea Peoples

Ramesses III was successful defense was able to slow down the decline, although it still meant that his successors would have a weaker military. He has also been described as a "warrior Pharaoh" due to his strong military strategies. He led the way by defeating the invaders known as "the Sea Peoples", who had caused destruction in other civilizations and empires. He was able to save Egypt from collapsing at the time when many other empires fell during the Late Bronze Age.

Medinet Habu Inscription

The decoration of Medinet Habu features a collection of reliefs and texts that narrate the king's various achievements, including his fight against the Libyans and, most notably, his battle with the Sea Peoples.

The texts and reliefs related to the Sea Peoples are from the eighth year of Rameses III’s reign, around 1190 B.C. These texts are important because they offer an Egyptian perspective on the campaign against the "coalition of the sea." The inscriptions at Medinet Habu are also notable for their artistic representations of the Sea Peoples, which provide useful insights into the appearance and gear of different groups, helping to identify their ethnic origins (Redford 1992: 251). However, this was not the first invasion attempt by the Sea Peoples; the initial attempt was against King Merneptah (reign: 1213 to 1203 B.C.). His victory was documented on his stele. Based on the textual evidence found on the temple walls, it seems that the Peleset and the Tjeker were the main groups of Sea Peoples involved in the invasion during year 8. In the artistic representations, both groups are shown wearing a fillet (a ribbon used as a headband), with a floppy plume sticking out and a protective piece covering the back of the neck.

Medinet Habu Plan

-Temple Entrance Of The Temple Medinet Habu:

The Temple Medinet Habu was planned in an orderly fashion. The temple has two walls: -An inner wall and an outer wall. Outside the wall is a dock for ships. Entering the temple is via the southeastern entrance, which was a gate flanked on either side by two guard rooms.

-The "Migdol" Entrance:

The Outside Wall leads to what is known as the High Gate of Ramesses III, It is a unique building in Egypt, Ramses III ordered its construction in the style of the Syrian castles known as “Majdal.” It consists of two towers with balconies in the middle of which is a gate, which is considered the entrance.

-The Chapel Of Amenirdis I:

It is stands just inside the enclosure to the south-west. Adjacent to it, on the north side are the chapels of Shepenupet II and Nitiqret. Full CVs All of these women were Divine Adoratrices of Amun, a secondary title to the God's Wife of Amun, which was held by the highest ranking priestess serving the ancient Egyptian god Amun.

Temple Complex Of Medinet Habu

-The House Of Butehamun:

Butehamun is an Egyptian scribe who grew up in or near Deir el-Medina, was a modest home situated to the north-west of the inner enclosure of the Ramesside Temple at Medinet Habu. Four adobe columns still stand, featuring inscriptions and depictions of the god Amun, the pharaoh Amenhotep I, and Amenhotep I's mother, the Great Royal Wife Ahmose-Nefertari.

-The Royal Palace:

Next to the south end of courtyard I, the palace was connected by a side entrance with the temple. This layout emphasises it's use as a ritual site, enabling the Pharaoh to quickly travel between his duties as a divine being, participating in temple rituals and overseeing life on earth. Architecturally, the palace follows a conventional New Kingdom layout with consideration taken for its multiple functions as dwelling and administration centre.

-Royal Palace Design:

The palace has an imposing audience hall with a throne room that was in the center and surrounded by a raised platform and columns. The throne room was adorned with images of the king in conjunction with deities, emphasizing the divine legitimacy of Ramesses III’s rule . The siderooms served multifunctional purposes such as private spaces, offices and storage areas reflecting the importance of it as a governing hub.