Dendera: temple of Hathor, foundation deposit

Jadwiga Iwaszczuk
June 29, 2018
foundation deposit

The foundation deposit dated to the reign of Hatshepsut consists of fourteen miniature objects made of bronze. It is a group of five adze blades, five chisels, two axe blades, one knife blade and one scraper. The collection was purchased at the antiquities market and only the inscription incised on one of the adze blades might connect them with Dendera: "good god Men-kheper-Ra beloved of Hathor, Lady of Dendera (nṯr nfr Mn-ḫpr-n-Rʿ mrj Ḥwt-Ḥr nb.t Jwnjj.t)". Three chisels, however, were inscribed with the name of Amun without any epithets. If all these objects were discovered together it is possible that not only Hathor was venerated in Dendera, but also there was a sanctuary of Amun, as it is also shown on a granite lintel of Thutmose III or Hatshepsut.


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