Medinet Habu
The mortuary temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu is, without shadow of a doubt, the best-preserved of all the royal “memorial” complexes from New Kingdom Thebes. This monumental bears fitting testimony to the glorious achievements of the last great Ramesside pharaoh. Officially named as the “Mansion of Millions of Years of King Ramesses III, United with Eternity within the Estate of Amun”, the new temple was carefully designed to incorporate an earlier temple that had occupied this sacred ground for some 300 years since the reigns of Hatshepsut and her nephew, and co-regent, Tuthmosis III.
Medinet Habu was principally a religious foundation, established to preserve the cult of the deceased and deified king. However, its purpose was not entirely confined to matters of a divine nature. Generous royal endowments meant that Medinet Habu was one of Egypt’s most prosperous temple and economic institutions. Its productive output was integral to the wider fortunes of the country. Even after the death of Ramesses, the temple continued to thrive as the administrative headquarters for western Thebes.
Large areas of the temple’s walls were devoted to a series of detailed scenes and texts describing the major military campaigns conducted by Ramesses against the invading forces of the Libyan tribesmen and the “Sea Peoples”. Equally informative are the reliefs celebrating the Festivals of Sokar and Min that were enacted within the temple. The fortified “Migdol” entrance gateway contained the royal harim – it was here in these rooms that the plot to assassinate Ramesses was hatched and probably carried out by certain female members of the royal court.
Date of Construction: Main temple built during reign of Ramesses III (1185 – 1153 B.C.); earlier 18th dynasty temple of Hatshepsut/Tuthmosis III (c. 1479 – 1457 B.C.)
Highlights:
Reliefs of military campaigns of Ramesses III
Min & Sokar Festival scenes
Fortified “Migdol” gate-tower
Royal palace of Ramesses III
Osiris sanctuary with celestial map
Chapels of the Divine Adoratrices
- Introduction to Medinet Habu - 1:34
- The Eastern High Gate, The Migdol - 1:59
- Temple Gardens and the First Pylon - 2:39
- War Reliefs of Ramesses III, First Libyan Campaign - 2:04
- Campaign Against the Sea Peoples - 1:40
- The Second Libyan Campaign - 1:18
- The First Court, The Second Libyan Campaign - 0:51
- Window of Appearances - 1:32
- The Second Court - 1:03
- Festival of Sokar Reliefs - 1:01
- Festival of Min Reliefs - 1:18
- Processions of the Children of Ramesses III - 1:04
- The Inner Sanctum, First Hypostyle Hall - 0:59
- Slaughtering Scenes - 0:38
- The Treasury - 0:35
- Second Hypostyle Hall - 0:45
- The Osiris Suite - 1:28
- Sanctuary of Osiris - 1:31
- Re-Horakhty Suite - 1:23
- Shrines of the Theban Triad - 0:47
- The Royal Palace - 1:51
- The Temple Calendar - 0:56
- The Harim Conspiracy - 2:05
