Hatshepsut, the Queen Elizabeth of Egypt, reserved for herself the best space in the splendid temple-tomb at Deir-el-Bahari, tucking away in small quarters the bodies of her male relatives. A brother later re¬ taliated by removing her name from the inscriptions.

Every great temple in ancient Egypt had its sacred lake, where the wor¬ shippers performed their ablutions and the religious processions of boats took place. The banks of this lake at Karnak were originally lined with smooth-cut stone.