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Ptolemaic King and Queen Making Offerings to a Divinity.
The exterior walls of the Temple of Hathor are covered with sunk relief carvings dating
from the late Ptolemaic and Roman Periods. The western corner of the south wall is
notable for its representation of Cleopatra VII Philopator (51-30 C.E.) and Ptolemy
XV Caesar [Caesarion; 36-30 C.E.], Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar. Traditional of
ancient Egypt are the gender roles portrayed in which Cleopatra, a mature ruler, follows
her young titular co-regent.
This picture also illustrates some traditional Egyptian architectural features. The
pylon-shape of the back wall of the Temple of Hathor, with its battered (slanted)
walls and rounded corners, are reminiscent of Egypt’s past when mudbrick, wood, and
reeds were the principal construction materials. The outward-curving cavetto cornice at the top is another typically Egyptian element
From the pylon of the Hathor temple; sandstone, carved in sunk relief and painted.
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