Thothmes III. did not usurp the sanctuary which had been built by his aunt, where he was represented behind her, in the second rank, as everywhere in the temple at Deir el-Bahari. He built one in the old temple of Mentuhetep. Hathor being a goddess who comes out of a mountain, it was necessary to have a cave; therefore it was cut in the rock, in the north-western corner of the temple, which originally was symmetrical to the south-western, and where the rock followed an oblique direction between the dromos leading up to the cliffs and the Northern Court. A triangle was cut in the mountain, down to a level 3 ft. above the old temple, making thus a platform lined on the north and on the west by vertical rock-facings. This platform was prolonged over the limestone enclosure-wall so as to make room for a forehall, to which evidently access was given by a stairway or ramp leading to a door. |