why the temple of hatshepsut was built?
86973
The temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri on the West Bank of Thebes (modern Luxor area) was a mortuary temple.  From the Old Kingdom onward Egyptian monarchs had temples directly associated with the celebration of their cult after death.  When above-ground easily seen tombs weres still being constructed (ie pyramids) the mortuary temple was placed in the pyramid complex.  When burial shifted to hidden sites like those in the Valley of the Kings, the mortuary temple was instead located somewhere on the west bank of the Nile, across the river from the major cult complexes of Karnak and Luxor Temples.\nHatshepsut may have chosen the location of Deir el-Bahri for her temple because of the presence of an earlier temple belonging to Mentuhotep II, first king of the Middle Kingdom, in an attempt to further legitimize her reign as king.  In any event, the temple (called Djeser-Djeseru "Sublime of Sublime") combined both regional Theban architectural styles as well as themes from the broader Egyptian royal style and was constructed in such a way as to take advantage of the natural setting of the cliffs.
811581
Excellent thought. And for that matter, why didn't God support the Pharaoh Akhenaten when he tried to introduce monotheism to Egypt long before Moses?
318828
Regarding chambers beneath the Sphinx - yes, ground penetrating radar studies have revealed several anomalies, none very big, that are probably chambers. It is not clear how many of these reflect natural fissures in the limestone or how many are actual deliberate constructions. It is known that some of these chambers are of fairly recent date - the 1800s, made by explorers and/or in the course of restoration efforts. It is extraordinarily unlikely that there is either a "Chamber of Lost Records" as predicted by Edgar Cayce, nor a "machine" of Atlantean provenance associated with the Sphinx.\nIt is not entirely beyond possibility that there is an ancient chamber dating to the period of the carving/construction of the Sphinx or to later restoration efforts by Tutmose IV and later kings. Such a chamber(s) would likely be a foundation deposit - quite common for constructions of a religious nature in ancient Egypt.\n\n\nSee the following and links therein for a decent summary:\nhttp://www.catchpenny.org/chamber.html...
595327
a temple, sanctuary<?
370713
About Egyptian Pyramids\n\nThere are no more famous ancient sites within Egypt, or for that matter elsewhere in the world, than the Great Pyramids at Giza. They are, without question, the icon most associated with the Egypt. They have been both the main destination for tourists, and a source of imaginative thought to the world for over three thousand years.\n\nHowever, there are actually over 100 pyramids in Egypt, many of which are relatively unknown to anyone who is not an ancient Egypt enthusiast. All but a very few are grouped around and near the City of Cairo, just south of the Nile Delta. Otherwise, only one royal pyramid is known in southern Egypt (at Abydos), that being the one built by Ahmose, founder of the 18th Dynasty and Egypt's New Kingdom. It may have also been the last royal pyramid built in Egypt. \n\nHence, major pyramids were not built throughout Egypt's ancient history. The Pyramid Age began with a burst of building, starting with the 3rd Dynasty reign of Djoser. Some of the early kings, most specifically Snefru, built more than one pyramid. Almost all of the kings added to their number through the end of the Middle Kingdom, with the possible exception of the First Intermediate Period between the Old and Middle Kingdoms. After the first Pharaoh of Egypt's New Kingdom, Ahmose, royal pyramid building by Egyptians ceased entirely. Somewhat abruptly the kings of the New Kingdom chose, rather than making their tombs completely obvious, to hide them in the hills of the West Bank of Thebes (modern Luxor). \n\nHowever, smaller pyramids were constructed, for example in the Deir el-Medina necropolis, by private individuals. The Late Period Nubians who ruled Egypt also built relatively small pyramids with much steeper sides, though these were in fact constructed in Nubia itself. This tradition was carried on in Nubia after these southern rulers lost control of Egypt, and eventually, more pyramids were actually built in Nubia than Egypt, though on a much smaller scale. \n\nOther pyramids in the world certainly exist, but their purpose, for the most part, was different than those of ancient Egypt. The most famous outside Egypt are probably those located in Mexico and to the south of Mexico, but these appear to have been built more as temples. In Egypt, all but a select few of the pyramids were built as tombs, sometimes to hold the physical body of a pharaoh (as well as other individuals), or to hold the soul of the deceased (as in the case of the small cult pyramids built next to the larger ones). Otherwise, the purpose of only a few small, regional stepped pyramids remains elusive. \n\nWhile pyramids were, for the most part, tombs for the Pharaohs of Egypt, one must nevertheless question the reason that Egyptian rulers chose this particular shape, and for that matter, why they built them so large. Today, we believe that they chose the shape in order to mimic the Benben, a pyramid shaped stone found in the earliest of temples, which itself is thought to symbolize the primeval mound from which the Egyptians believed life emerged. This also connected the pyramid to Re, the Sun God, as it was he, according to some of the ancient Egypt mythology, who rose from the primeval mound to create life. \n\nAs far the great size of many of the pyramids in Egypt, we can really only surmise that the Pharaohs were making a statement about their own power and perhaps, about the glory and strength of their country. However, it should also be remembered that many of the latter pyramids were not nearly as large as the Great Pyramids at Giza (and elsewhere).\n\nPyramids evolved. The first of them was not a perfectly formed pyramid. In fact, the first Pyramid we believe that was built in Egypt, that of Djoser, was not a true pyramid at all with smooth sides and a point at the top. Rather, its sides were stepped, and the top of the pyramid truncated with a flat surface (as best we know). As the Egyptian pyramids evolved, there wer
15440
The Three Kings. The reason why because it talks about the birth of christ and how the magi came to give him gifts when he was born and just how special it was when he was born by the Virgin Mary. I think you should go check it out.
9475
I don't have any solid research but I imagine there were at least a few general reasons:\n\nTo spread out a kingdom because individuals and their livestock needed more land, OR to accomodate growing populations in a certain kingdom/city/empire.\n\nTo provide a safer buffer from enemies, that is, cities in the center of an increasing territory for better protection.\n\nTo secure resources or trade routes\n\nTo convert other people to the expanding religion\n\nTo populate newly/randomly discovered territories\n\nI am editing now, I suppose those things could have been the reason in the very earliest of times but in prehistoric societies, I bet survival sums it up pretty well. Maybe not expansion but certainly the nomadic thing...pick up and move to beat the weather or a threatening pack of animals, to find food or land appropriate to grow food and support livestock. Territory would certainly have had something to do with it, if there was a serious enough pissing contest with a threatening enough adversary, such as an unfriendly neighboring clan, a settlement of people might pick up and move to give themselves more safety by giving the big guy wider berth.
694111
I believe it was meant to be oil, I've read ancient egyptians used polished metal placed in strategic positions to reflect sunlight thus creating light to see by.
610616
It was a pagan place of ritual and sacrifice. It represented the sun and moon and with the capstones was "closed" from outside.\n\nThe rocks were actually quarried in wales and dragged overland to the site and then erected.. A neat bit of engineering..\n\nLike the Pyramids, slave labour was used.... \n\nIt was the "centre" of a place of power, close to the heavens and many many burial BARROWS are located in the vicinity.\n\nFor me.. it was a great place to take girlfriends to and shag them..\n\nSadly today it's roped off and you can't get close.
457492
A number of different gods.\n\nSee the link below for a possible overview.
255528
The creator of all things was either Re, Amun, Ptah, Khnum or Aten, depending on which version of the myth was currently in use. The heavens were represented by Hathor, Bat, and Horus. Osiris was an earth god as was Ptah. The annual flooding of the Nile was Hapi. Storms, evil and confusion were Seth. His counterpart was Ma'at, who represented balance, justice and truth. The moon was Thoth and Khonsu. Re, the sun god, took on many forms, and transcended most of the borders that contained the other gods. The actual shape of the sun, the disk (or, aten), was deified into another god, Aten. \n\n \n\nAs stated earlier, certain gods were worshipped in different areas. Local cities or villages, known as nomes, often had unique gods that were known only to that region. On occasion, these gods attained country -wide recognition and became the myths and legends that were passed on from century to century. Below is a listing of the main gods and their primary place of worship. \n\nAmaunet - A female counterpart to Amon and one of the primordial gods of the Hermopolitian Ogdoad (group of eight gods). She was also worshipped at Thebes along with Amon and Mut. \n\nAmon - Usually associated with the wind, or things hidden, and was also of the Hermopolitian Ogdoad. At Thebes he became Amon-Re, king of the gods. He was part of the Theban Triad, along with Mut and Khonsu. \n\nAntaios - He was originally a double god, "the two falcons", that was later joined to create one, probably that of Horus. \n\nAnuket - Worshipped at Elephantine, she was associated with the gazelle. \n\nApis - Seen as the bull with a solar disk between its horns, Apis was associated with Osiris and Ptah. \n\nAton - Also known as Aten, he was worshipped at Tell 'Amarna. \n\nAtum - A primordial god that was represented in the form of a human and a serpent. He was the supreme god in the Heliopolitan Ennead (group of nine gods) and formed with Re to create Re-Atum. \n\nHathor - The goddess of love, dance and alcohol was depicted as a cow. At Thebes she was also the goddess of the dead. She was worshipped at Dendera as the consort of Horus and Edfu, and was associated with Isis at Byblos. \n\nHorus - The earliest royal god was the shape of a falcon, with the sun and moon as his eyes. The sky-god was the ruler of the day. The many forms of Horus are; Re-Harakhti, Harsiesis, Haroeris, Harendotes, Khenti-irti, Khentekhtay (the crocodile-god), and Harmakhis, which is Horus on the horizons, in which the Sphinx of Giza is considered to be his aspect. \n\nIsis - The mother of Horus and sister and consort of Osiris was worshipped at Philae. Associated with Astarte, Hathor, Nut and Sothis, she was later worshipped over the entire Roman Empire. \n\nKhnum - Resembling a human with a rams head, he was worshipped in Hypselis, Esna, Antinoe and Elephantine. \n\nKhonsu - the moon god was the son of Amon and Mut. The main temple at Karnak is dedicated to him. \n\nMin - God of fertility coalesced with Amon and Horus. Min was mainly worshipped at Coptos and Akhmim. \n\nMut - Worshipped at Thebes, she was a consort of Amon and part of the Theban Triad (group of three gods). \n\nNut - Mother of the sun, moon and heavenly bodies. \n\nOsiris - He is regarded as the dead king that watches over the nether world and is rejuvenated in his son Horus. As the symbol of eternal life he was worshipped at Abydos and Philae. \n\nPtah - Worshipped in Memphis, he coalesced with Sokaris and Osiris. \n\nRe - He was the sun god of Heliopolis. From the fifth Dynasty onwards he becomes a national god and is combined with the supreme deity Amon. \n\nSerapis - He was mainly worshipped in Alexandria and was later worshipped by the Greeks as Zeus. He was never fully accepted by the Egyptians in the Ptolemaic period. \n\nSekhmet - She was part of the Memphite Triad with Ptah and Nefertem. She was the mistress of war and sickness. \n\nSeth - The son of Geb and Nut in the Heliopolitan Ennead was in the for
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Listed In Order!!!\n\nA gigantic stone structure near the ancient city of Memphis, serving as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu \n\nThe Great Pyramid of Giza \n\nA palace with legendary gardens built on the banks of the Euphrates river by King Nebuchadnezzar II \n\nThe Hanging Gardens of Babylon\n\nAn enormous statue of the Greek father of gods, carved by the great sculptor Pheidias \n\nThe Statue of Zeus at Olympia\n\nA beautiful temple in Asia Minor erected in honor of the Greek goddess of hunting and wild nature \n\nThe Temple of Artemis at Ephesus\n\nA fascinating tomb constructed for King Maussollos, Persian satrap of Caria \n\nThe Mausoleum at Halicarnassus\n\nA colossus of Helios the sun-god, erected by the Greeks near the harbor of a Mediterranean Island \n\nThe Colossus of Rhodes\n\nA lighthouse built by the Ptolemies on the island of Pharos off the coast of their capital city \n\nThe Lighthouse of Alexandria
1028914
"How were the great pyramids of Egypt built?"\n\nVery, very carefully
1104507
The list comprises the seven most impressive monuments of the Ancient World, some of which barely survived to the Middle Ages.  For their builders, the Seven Wonders were a celebration of religion, mythology, art, power, and science. For us, they reflect the ability of humans to change the surrounding landscape by building massive yet beautiful structures, one of which stood the test of time to this very day. \n\n\nThe Great Pyramid of Giza \nThe Hanging Gardens of Babylon \nThe Statue of Zeus at Olympia \nThe Temple of Artemis at Ephesus \nThe Mausoleum at Halicarnassus \nThe Colossus of Rhodes \nThe Lighthouse of Alexandria
904570
The creator of all things was either Re, Amun, Ptah, Khnum or Aten, depending on which version of the myth was currently in use. The heavens were represented by Hathor, Bat, and Horus. Osiris was an earth god as was Ptah. The annual flooding of the Nile was Hapi. Storms, evil and confusion were Seth. His counterpart was Ma'at, who represented balance, justice and truth. The moon was Thoth and Khonsu. Re, the sun god, took on many forms, and transcended most of the borders that contained the other gods. The actual shape of the sun, the disk (or, aten), was deified into another god, Aten. \n\n \n\nCertain gods were worshipped in different areas. Local cities or villages, known as nomes, often had unique gods that were known only to that region. On occasion, these gods attained country -wide recognition and became the myths and legends that were passed on from century to century. Below is a listing of the main gods and their primary place of worship. \n\nAmaunet - A female counterpart to Amon and one of the primordial gods of the Hermopolitian Ogdoad (group of eight gods). She was also worshipped at Thebes along with Amon and Mut. \n\nAmon - Usually associated with the wind, or things hidden, and was also of the Hermopolitian Ogdoad. At Thebes he became Amon-Re, king of the gods. He was part of the Theban Triad, along with Mut and Khonsu. \n\nAntaios - He was originally a double god, "the two falcons", that was later joined to create one, probably that of Horus. \n\nAnuket - Worshipped at Elephantine, she was associated with the gazelle. \n\nApis - Seen as the bull with a solar disk between its horns, Apis was associated with Osiris and Ptah. \n\nAton - Also known as Aten, he was worshipped at Tell 'Amarna. \n\nAtum - A primordial god that was represented in the form of a human and a serpent. He was the supreme god in the Heliopolitan Ennead (group of nine gods) and formed with Re to create Re-Atum. \n\nHathor - The goddess of love, dance and alcohol was depicted as a cow. At Thebes she was also the goddess of the dead. She was worshipped at Dendera as the consort of Horus and Edfu, and was associated with Isis at Byblos. \n\nHorus - The earliest royal god was the shape of a falcon, with the sun and moon as his eyes. The sky-god was the ruler of the day. The many forms of Horus are; Re-Harakhti, Harsiesis, Haroeris, Harendotes, Khenti-irti, Khentekhtay (the crocodile-god), and Harmakhis, which is Horus on the horizons, in which the Sphinx of Giza is considered to be his aspect. \n\nIsis - The mother of Horus and sister and consort of Osiris was worshipped at Philae. Associated with Astarte, Hathor, Nut and Sothis, she was later worshipped over the entire Roman Empire. \n\nKhnum - Resembling a human with a rams head, he was worshipped in Hypselis, Esna, Antinoe and Elephantine. \n\nKhonsu - the moon god was the son of Amon and Mut. The main temple at Karnak is dedicated to him. \n\nMin - God of fertility coalesced with Amon and Horus. Min was mainly worshipped at Coptos and Akhmim. \n\nMut - Worshipped at Thebes, she was a consort of Amon and part of the Theban Triad (group of three gods). \n\nNut - Mother of the sun, moon and heavenly bodies. \n\nOsiris - He is regarded as the dead king that watches over the nether world and is rejuvenated in his son Horus. As the symbol of eternal life he was worshipped at Abydos and Philae. \n\nPtah - Worshipped in Memphis, he coalesced with Sokaris and Osiris. \n\nRe - He was the sun god of Heliopolis. From the fifth Dynasty onwards he becomes a national god and is combined with the supreme deity Amon. \n\nSerapis - He was mainly worshipped in Alexandria and was later worshipped by the Greeks as Zeus. He was never fully accepted by the Egyptians in the Ptolemaic period. \n\nSekhmet - She was part of the Memphite Triad with Ptah and Nefertem. She was the mistress of war and sickness. \n\nSeth - The son of Geb and Nut in the Heliopolitan Ennead was in the form of an animal that
338822
He strengthened the government by getting the people's support.  Athens had been very thrifty, but Pericles spent huge somes of money on plays and buildings and other things the people enjoyed.  He basically spoiled the people so that they supported the government more.
216552
The resilience of the cat, especially when falling from a height (and "always landing on hisfeet") has long been noted.  In the 19th century someone finally was able to PHOTOGRAPH a cat falling and observe just HOW the cat had the ability to quickly twist, making the balance adjustment it needed to land as safely as possible.\n\nBut why NINE lives (not seven or eight or ten)?  It might be from the idea that nine was a "trinity of trinities" and so symbolic of perfection or completeness. This would fit with the apparent EGYPTIAN origin of the notion.   \n\nThe specific number probably stems from Ancient Egypt, in whose religion the cat played an important role:\n\n"But why nine? Nine, a trinity of trinities, is a mystical number often invoked in religion and folklore. The cat was once revered in Egypt, and this is probably where its nine lives began. The priesthood in On - known to the Greeks as Heliopolis and now a suburb of Cairo - worshipped Atum-Ra, a sun god who gave life to the gods of air, moisture, earth and sky, who, in turn, produced Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. These gods are collectively known as the Ennead, or the Nine. Atum-Ra, who took the form of a cat for visits to the underworld, embodied nine lives in one creator."