Final answer:
The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, located in Deir el-Bahri and built during the New Kingdom period, is notable for its departure from pyramid construction in favor of temples carved from cliffs. It served as a monumental part of Hatshepsut's lengthy and prosperous reign. Thebes was the new capital during this era, reflecting changes in religious and architectural practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, also known as Djeser-Djeseru, is located in Deir el-Bahri, Egypt and dates back to the 18th Dynasty, around 1473-1458 BCE. This temple is iconic for its grand architecture and historical significance. Unlike the pyramids of earlier dynasties, the mortuary temples were carved directly out of cliff faces, signifying a shift in Egyptian burial practices in the New Kingdom period, particularly in the Middle Kingdom when tombs were cut into cliffs in the Valley of the Kings, adjacent to the temple complex at Karnak.
Hatshepsut's temple serves as a testament to her reign as one of the few female pharaohs, who ruled for 22 years and oversaw an era of prosperity and architectural innovation. The temple itself consists of three terraced levels with a series of ramps leading through garden courtyards and past monumental statutes and obelisks. The focal point of the temple, Djeser-Djeseru, sits at the top of the terraces and was used for elaborate rituals after Hatshepsut's death.
It is noteworthy that Thebes served as the new capital during the New Kingdom, with the pharaohs of the time focusing more on temple complexes dedicated to gods such as Amon-Re and Mut, rather than pyramid-building. Hatshepsut's temple is a prime example of these architectural and religious shifts.