Luxor to Denderah Half Day Private Tour: Hathor Temple at Denderah

You will be picked up by a professional tour guide and will drive past picturesque villages through the city of Qena to the beautiful Denderah Temple. The temple was built in the 1st century BC by Ptolemy VIII and Queen Cleopatra II, and is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. The temple is dedicated to Hathor, Goddess and mother of the Pharaohs, representing maternity, love, music and the celestial. The Goddess is represented, with the horns of the sacred cow supporting the solar disc of the sun. In her hands she holds an "Ankh" (the symbol of life), and a scepter. You can visit the crypt, a great spot, for those who are not claustrophobic. 2 staircases lead to the roof, beautifully decorated with symbols of the 12 months of the year. In one of the rooftop chapels, you will find (a copy of) the famous Denderah Zodiac (the original rests in the Louvre in Paris). The temple has been recently restored and cleaned and will give you a feeling of walking through ancient history.