Tourists going on excursions to Luxor can soon add another interesting place to their collection of ancient monuments of Egypt. The High Council of ancient Egypt decided to open the catacombs of the temple of Dendera in the province of Kena, 70 km from Luxor, to foreign tourists.
The catacombs of the Temple of Dendera—which was once built to worship Hathor, the ancient Egyptian goddess of love, beauty, and family—are a rare treasure trove of historical artifacts—and will once again be open to tourists following the completion of many restorations. The temple housed golden statues of deities and other historical artifacts, preserved precious statues, and a collection of inscriptions and barrels, as well as a unique stone door that opens – all this can be seen by tourists.
The temple, however, is somewhat “younger” than the Egyptian pyramids – it was built already in the Greco-Roman era by the Ptolemaic dynasty – that is, approximately 240 years BC. However, this does not reduce its value, especially in the eyes of a tourist. The construction of the temple lasted two hundred years and it still impresses. The temple has unique architecture and includes paintings and inscriptions, and its walls and columns are decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions and engraved statues. Especially tourists are advised to pay attention to the ceiling of the temple – they are considered one of the most outstanding architectural masterpieces of the history of Ancient Egypt.
Regarding the details of the new attraction, as stated by the General Secretary of the Council Mostafa Vaziri, the admission of tourists to the new attraction is planned for June. The entrance fee for foreigners is assumed to be 100 Egyptian pounds – that is, approximately 110 hryvnias.