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probably not as easily accessible as limestone, which is why limestone was used instead (Wilkinson
2007, 40-41; de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel 2012, 4; Schneider 1979, 95; Aldred 1978, 45).
Additional constructions
The Taffeh temple was a temple complex. The Taffeh temple itself was more likely a chapel that
accompanied the main temple below, the southern temple. There is evidence for additional
religious structures to have been part of the temple complex, built on a second platform close to
the Taffeh temple. The complex of buildings was likely surrounded by an enclosure wall (Schneider
1979, 12; 92-93).
The temple of Dendur did not have a lot of additional buildings surrounding it either. There were a
few priests’ houses built in the area between the river’s verge and the hillside, adjacent to the
temple. These houses could only house a small number of priests. Aside from this the had a gate
and very likely an enclosure wall. The only other additional construction at this temple is the burial
chamber in the rocks behind the temple where the brothers were initially buried and the secret
room behind the temple. No further buildings have been described to have been part of this
temple (Aldred 1978, 33-45).
When the temple of Shenhur was built there were no additional buildings that were part of this
temple. A lateral chapel was added to the temple at some point and connected to the temple in a
later period (de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel 2012, 3).
Orientation
The orientation of traditional Egyptian temples would be facing east, so the sun would shine
through the pylon when rising, and with the entrance facing the Nile. This was usually possible as
the Nile lay east of most temples. The Nile makes a curve however near Luxor. In this area the
temple of Shenhur is located, which is why it was not possible here to face the temple both to the
east and with the entrance facing the Nile (de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel 2012, 4; Clarysse 2010,
275).