They landed and Senemut helped her out of theboat.
“Well?” she demanded. “What is thesurprise?”
“We walk now.”
Sighing, Hattie gestured for him to lead theway, two guards trailing them at a respectful distance. He wouldtell her in his own good time.
Hurrying to keep up, she followed him as theycrossed a broad plain, then scrambled up a steep and precariouspath that was little more than a goat trail, leaving the guardspuffing and muttering in their wake. Pausing at the top of theridge to catch her breath, she panted, “I go no farther until youtell me where you are taking me.”
Senemut smiled broadly and pointed down.“Look. It is your temple.”
Hattie turned her head to follow his pointingfinger and gasped. Backed up to an impressive bay of limestonecliffs, glowing in the rosy light of dawn, stood the partiallycompleted expanse of her temple. Although much work remained to bedone, it was an imposing, magnificent sight. A broad causeway ledfrom the river across the valley to the temple. Three sphinxesflanked one side of the avenue, and workmen were hard at work onanother of what was obviously a long line of the creatures. Twoterraces were in place, with wide ramps leading up from one toanother, and a third was under construction.
“Oh, Senemut,” Hattie breathed. “It islovely. You are doing a wonderful job.” She had seen Hatshepsut’sruined temple in the museum’s photographs, but nothing had preparedher for the breathtaking sight of it in person. “I see there is aneasier path,” she added, indicating the sphinx-lined avenue. “But Iam pleased you brought me this way. What a magnificent view!”
“You are not angry that I kept ourdestination from you?”
“Oh, nay. It is a wonderful surprise.” Shesmiled. “Tell me about it, please. How will it look when it iscompleted?”
“It will be the most imposing temple in allof Egypt! There, in the first court, will be a garden, depictionsof the marshes of lower Egypt, and scenes of Your Majesty’s greatobelisks for the temple at Karnak under construction,” he said,pointing. “The second court will illustrate to all who come theevents surrounding your divine birth, and the great accomplishmentsof your reign.”
“Of course, it is blank thus far,” Hattiemurmured.
“But not for long, little warrior.” Senemutgrinned. “The south end of the second level will host a chapeldedicated to Hathor, goddess of love and music, on whose sacredsite your temple is built. The chapel will include pillars cappedwith representations of Hathor and a hypostyle hall. And on thenorth end of the second level will be a chapel dedicated toAnubis.”
“The god of the dead?”
Senemut nodded. “The uppermost court willhave statues of Your Gracious Majesty—” He bowed deeply. “—beforeeach pillar. A peristyle court leads to the rock chapel dedicatedto Amun. Also, we will construct chapels for you and your royalfather.” He spread his arms to indicate the entire complex. “Youare pleased?”
“I am awestruck,” she assured him. “How couldI be anything but pleased with such a magnificent structure?”
“The work will not be completed for manyseasons,” Senemut said, sighing. “But even a half-finished templeshould have a name. Have you anything in mind?”
“A name?” Hattie closed her eyes and frowned.Had she ever heard a name for Hatshepsut’s temple? She wracked herbrain but couldn’t remember one. The pictures she’d seen simplycalled it Hatshepsut’s temple. Aloud, she said, “I know not what tocall it, but the name should reflect its purpose, should it not?The temple will be dedicated to several gods. It will list theaccomplishments of my reign. Priests will perform sacred ritesthere. It will be holy ground.”
“Aye. It will be the holiest of theholies,” Senemut said, nodding. Then he opened his eyes wide.“Holiest of the holies…that is it, Hattie! We shall call itDjeserDjeseru. What thinkyou?”
“I think it is perfect,” Hattie said,relieved. The name was unfamiliar but felt, somehow, right. “Can weget closer? I would like to see the artists at work.” She pointedto the scaffolding around the pillars on the middle terrace.
“Of course!” Senemut held out his hand toher. “The workmen will be most honored by your presence.”
She took his hand and, together, they starteddown the steep path to the temple.
Senemut led her to the foot of the cliffs.They walked up the sphinx-lined avenue, skirting sweating laborerswho pulled and strained against the ropes around a giant limestoneblock, inching it toward the wall of the temple under construction.Overseers shouted directions and encouragement; women scurried hereand there, dispensing water, bread, fish and dates. Hattie breatheddeeply. The air smelled of stone dust, mud, and dried fish, andheat already rose in ripples from the ground. Closer to the temple,Senemut pointed out T-shaped pits being excavated. “Those will bereflecting pools, surrounded by gardens,” he explained.
He continued up the ramp to the court on thesecond level, Hattie close behind. There, a pair of colossalsphinxes was being carved out of red granite. “When the sculptorsare finished, the sphinxes will be painted, as will those on theavenue,” he said.
“They are magnificent,” Hattie exclaimed,shading her eyes to look up to the top of the nearest one. Sheturned around in a circle. “And what is going on over there?” Shepointed.
“The artisans are creating a series ofreliefs illustrating Your Majesty’s divine birth,” Senemut said.“Would you like to examine their work?”
“Aye, I would!” She followed him to thenearest relief.
As soon as the workmen noticed Hattie, theyfell to their knees, foreheads touching the dusty ground.
“Please rise,” she urged. “I have come to seethe splendid work you are doing.” She walked over to a colorful,nearly completed relief of a pregnant woman in the company of twogoddesses. “This is lovely! What does it represent?”
After a moment, a workman rose and approachedher reluctantly, his gaze directed squarely at his feet. “Majesty,it is…it shows your royal mother, Queen Ahmose, being led into thebirthing chamber by two goddesses who are there to witness yoursacred birth.”
Hattie asked, “And can you tell me how it isdone? I am something of an artist myself,
