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Dendera (ancient lunet) is situated on the west bank of the Nile, south of Abydos, in Upper Egypt. The site has had a long history of occupation ever since the earliest dynasties. Excavations have revealed many important documents which enabled a thorough study of its early period by G.H. Fischer. However, the only remaining monuments of interest to non-professionals date. from the Ptolemaic to the Coptic Periods. The most important among them is the Temple of Hathor. The present Graeco-Roman temple was constructed over earlier remains and has few relics from the times of the the temple The of capital Hathorof Its precinct is surrounded by a brick the column has a composite floral wall with a monumental portal made decoration. Above it one can see the of stone. Two Roman wells are situated abacus stone bearing a high relief of in front of the entrance. Apart from the the god Bes. main temple, there are three chapels built parallel to each other. The closest to the temenos wall is a "birth chapel" (mammisi) from the Roman Period. Next there is a Coptic church. Finally, the earlier mammisi, started under Nectanebo I of the 30th Dynasty. Further south, a square depression with abundant vegetation indicates the site of the sacred artificial lake of the temple. There are also remains of a Roman sanatorium (health restoring baths and site of oracular divination through dreams) and a shrine of the birth of Isis.The temple of Hathor is well preserved. Its plan is clear and symmetrical. Particularly impressive are the high and massive columns in the large hypostyle hall. These columns have capitals in the form of Hathor faces (human face with cow's ears and heavy wig). For the sake of symmetry, four faces were sculpted on each capital, oriented to the four directions. Hathor capitals were utilized only in temples of that goddess (Deir elBahari, Deir el-Medina, Serabit el-Khadim, Abu Simbel, Memphis). The inner halls of the temple are lit by small, specially designed openings in the ceiling. The dramatic effectthat -was thus achieved by the interplay between strong light and shadow can still be appreciated. The wall reliefs depict episodes. in the cult of the goddess, her husband Horus and their offspring Ihy, mostly shown as a naked youth holding. a sistrum rattle. Roman emperors, dressed as Egyptian pharaohs, perform-the cult. Their name-rings (cartouches) were sculpted in relief near their figures, but were often left blank. This is so because of the too frequent succession of kings on the Roman throne. Thenames were merely painted into the cartouches, to facilitate eventual alterations, but the paint has mostly disappeared Two covered staircases lead to the roof. Réliefs of priests mounting artd descending in solemn procession, cãrrÿing sacred objects, are sculpted on the walls of the staircases. The stairs are lit by occasional reCtanguIar openings in the outer wall. Graphical trajectories of slightly diverging sun rays are sculpted in the thickness of these "windows". From the roof of the temple one has a beautiful view of the entire complex and the surrounding region.