Egyptology | Chapter 6: Predynastic Origins of Egyptian Temples
Predynastic Origins of Egyptian Temples
Deir el-Medina Village
Deir el-Medina Village is located on the West Bank of Luxor and is surrounded by a thick mud-brick wall. It includes about 70 houses divided into two roughly equal sections separated by a street extending from north to south. The houses were adjacent to one another with no intervening spaces, were relatively small in size, and most of them comprised two or three rooms.
Predynastic and Early Dynastic Temples
A horizontal plan of a predynastic temple site in Hierakonpolis showing stepped retaining walls.
Depictions of woven reed buildings on predynastic palettes alongside illustrations of the original structure.
Drawings left by the Egyptians representing the shrine of the goddess Neith from the Archaic Period, as well as hut-shaped shrines from the Archaic Period depicted on seals.
Old Kingdom Royal Temples and Pyramid Complexes
The Mortuary Temple of the Bent Pyramid in Dahshur: It includes the mortuary temple and the offering shrine connected to the eastern face of the pyramid.
King Djoser's Complex at Saqqara: It includes the Step Pyramid, the mortuary temple, the serdab, the House of the North, the House of the South, the Heb-Sed (Jubilee) Court, and the great colonnade hall with palm- and papyrus-style stone columns. The southern tomb features walls topped with uraei (cobras) and subterranean chambers decorated with green faience tiles.
The Mortuary Temple of Khufu's Pyramid: Shown in plan layout along with temple elements and boat pit locations.
King Djedefre's Complex at Abu Rawash: Includes the mortuary temple, causeway, and valley temple.
| Temple Complex | Ruler | Key Architectural Features |
|---|---|---|
| Bent Pyramid Complex | Sneferu | Mortuary temple and offering shrine connected to the eastern face of the pyramid at Dahshur. |
| Djoser's Complex | Djoser | Step Pyramid, mortuary temple, serdab, House of the North, House of the South, Heb-Sed Court, great colonnade hall with palm- and papyrus-style stone columns; southern tomb with uraei-topped walls and green faience tile chambers at Saqqara. |
| Khufu's Pyramid Complex | Khufu | Mortuary temple, temple elements, and boat pits shown in plan layout. |
| Djedefre's Complex | Djedefre | Mortuary temple, causeway, and valley temple at Abu Rawash. |
| Khafre's Complex | Khafre | Mortuary temple east of the pyramid with entrance hall, open courtyard, statue niches, and inner sanctuary; valley temple of limestone faced with granite featuring a T-shaped pillared hall with 16 pink granite columns and a causeway approximately 500 meters long. |
| Menkaure's Complex | Menkaure | Main pyramid, queen's pyramids, upper mortuary temple, causeway, and lower valley temple. |
| Pepi II's Complex | Pepi II | Main pyramid, secondary cult pyramids, queen's pyramids, valley temple, entrances, and open corridors. |
| Userkaf's Sun Temple | Userkaf | Building resembling a valley temple, causeway, and open courtyard centered by a massive obelisk and an offering table at Abu Ghurab. |
King Khafre's Temples
The Mortuary Temple: Located to the east of the pyramid, it contains the entrance hall, open courtyard, statue niches, and the inner sanctuary.
The Valley Temple: Built from limestone and faced with granite inside and out, it features a T-shaped pillared hall containing 16 pink granite columns, with a corridor leading to a causeway approximately 500 meters long.
King Menkaure's Complex
Features the main pyramid, queen's pyramids, upper mortuary temple, causeway, and the lower valley temple.
Fifth and Sixth Dynasty Complexes
Includes the mortuary complex of Pepi II and Userkaf's Sun Temple at Abu Ghurab, featuring an obelisk and an open courtyard.
Middle Kingdom Temples
Includes the plan of the mortuary temple of King Mentuhotep Nebhepetre at Deir el-Bahari, alongside provincial temples such as Madinet Madi in Fayoum and the Madamud temple.
The Funerary Complex of King Menkaure
It includes the main pyramid, the queen's pyramids, the upper (mortuary) temple, the causeway, and the lower (valley) temple.
The Funerary Complex of King Pepi II
It includes the main pyramid, secondary cult pyramids, queen's pyramids, his valley temple, as well as the entrances and open corridors.
The Sun Temple of King Userkaf (Abu Ghurab)
It consists of a building resembling a valley temple, a causeway, and an open courtyard centered by a massive obelisk and an offering table.
Middle Kingdom Temples
The plan of the mortuary temple of King Mentuhotep Nebhepetre on the West Bank of Thebes.
Ruins and temples belonging to the Middle Kingdom, such as the Medinet Madi temple in the Fayoum and the Madamud temple.
Continuation of Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom Architectural Developments
Further analysis of provincial temple layouts and regional sanctuaries established during the Middle Kingdom.
Architectural transition elements leading into the expansion periods of the early New Kingdom temple designs.
New Kingdom Expansion and Temple Infrastructure
Detailed structural expansions of major regional cult centers across Upper and Lower Egypt during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Dynasties.
Integration of monumental columned halls, processional axes, and sacred barque shrines within the broader state temple architecture.
Administrative and Cultic Dependencies
The economic and administrative organization surrounding major temple estates, including storerooms, administrative offices, and priestly quarters.
Architectural Evolution of New Kingdom Temples
The structural development of processional axes and the addition of multiple pylons in major state temples.
The integration of open-air courtyards, hypostyle halls, and innermost sanctuaries designed for divine statues and sacred barques.
Specialized Temple Precincts and Functional Zones
The architectural organization of auxiliary buildings surrounding the core temple, including administrative offices, storerooms for ritual equipment, and sacred lakes used for priestly purification rites.
The addition of subsidiary chapels dedicated to specific manifestations of major deities or deified monarchs.
Module Key Takeaways
- Predynastic to Archaic: Egyptian temples originated as woven reed structures and hut-shaped shrines, evolving into stone constructions by the Early Dynastic period.
- Old Kingdom: Pyramid complexes integrated mortuary temples, valley temples, and causeways, with Djoser's Saqqara complex and Khafre's granite-faced valley temple as key examples.
- New Kingdom: Temples expanded with multiple pylons, hypostyle halls, processional axes, sacred barque shrines, and auxiliary structures including administrative offices and sacred lakes.