Mortuary Temple of Thutmosis III

Mortuary Temple of Thutmosis III in Deir el-Bahari is a sprawling complex with a prominent columned hall, multiple shrines, and open courtyards arranged across the valley slope. The entire structure was once covered with carved reliefs and functioned as a sacred place for honoring the deceased pharaoh.

Construction began around 1435 BC during the final years of Thutmosis III's reign and was completed under his successor Amenhotep II. The temple was later expanded and modified during the Ramesside period, with additional chambers added to its original layout.

It represents the New Kingdom period's architectural advancements.

The complex spans multiple levels and can be challenging to navigate. Best to explore it systematically by starting from the lower sections, and allow time for the stairway areas since they involve steep climbing.

Excavations since 2008 by Spanish-Egyptian teams have uncovered administrative buildings, workshops, and a priest's residence from the Ramesside period. These discoveries show how the site functioned as a working administrative and economic center in later centuries, not just as a shrine.