Dendera, Temple of Time

Dendera, Temple of Time is a full-colour exploration of the encoded ceiling at the Temple of Dendera.

This book draws on more than 5,000 high-resolution photographs taken by the author to reconstruct the complete ceiling of the portico of the Temple of Hathor at Dendera. It reveals in detail how each panel represents celestial cycles of time, from the Precession of the Equinoxes to the annual cycles of life found along the Nile. Additionally, it explains each panel’s astronomical significance from the ancient Egyptian perspective, examining the myths, gods, and goddesses depicted.

Egypt is renowned for its pyramids, the Sphinx, the temples at Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings, but 40 miles north of Luxor lies the best-preserved temple complex in all of Egypt: The Temple of Dendera, known for the famous "Zodiac of Dendera" now housed in the Louvre Museum. Within the portico leading into the Hathor temple at Dendera is a little-known outstanding achievement of humanity: an extensive coloured bas-relief—larger than the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel—meticulously encoded with the sophisticated astronomical knowledge of ancient Egypt.

Drawing on his extensive photographic collection, photographer and computer scientist José María Barrera presents a complete full-colour photographic reconstruction of the ceiling of the pronaos at Dendera. He reveals in detail how each panel represents celestial cycles of time, elaborating on the meaning of the layout of the ceiling as it relates to the present, the past, eternity, the hours of the day, the phases of the moon, the constellations used in ancient Egyptian astronomy, the solar year, and the Great Year.

The author provides a detailed analysis of each panel, including close-up photos, explaining each panel’s astronomical and spiritual significance from the ancient Egyptian perspective, along with the examination of myths, gods, and goddesses depicted. An appendix explores the meaning and symbology of ancient Egyptian iconography.

This photographic exploration allows you to experience the vivid details of this ancient work of art and science, re-creating the sense of spiritual awe and power the Temple of Dendera radiates to its visitors, whether today or millennia ago.