10 Ancient Middle Eastern Wonders Beyond Petra

4. The Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt

The Temple of Hatshepsut is unlike anything else in Egypt. Rising in dramatic terraces beneath limestone cliffs on the west bank of the Nile, this mortuary temple honors Egypt’s most successful female pharaoh. Hatshepsut defied tradition to rule in her own right, and her temple reflects both ambition and elegance—grand colonnades, vast courtyards, and reliefs detailing her reign and achievements.