The site of Deir el Madina is situated in a small valley between the western slope of the mountain of
Thebes
and the small hill of Qurnet Murai . The purpose for the presence of Deir El Madina is that it lies close to the
Valley of the Kings
and the Queens where the war of men would be concentrated . However , the valley and its inhabitants were not totally cut off from the outside world , as servants bringing supplies were constantly journeying up from the river .
The workmen and their families would no doubt venture down to the cultivation , from time to time , to buy goods , transact business , and look after their land and other properties which they owned outside the village proper .
The name of Deir el Madina which means "the City's Monastery" was given to the site because of the presence there of a Ptolemaic temple dedicated to
Hathor
and transformed during the Coptic era into a monastery . During the 18th dynasty reign of king Tuthmosis I , it was called "Set Maat" which means "place of truth" or "place of order" . Also Some texts refer to it under other names: Pa-Kber (the tomb) , Pa-demi (the town) , Set-Aat (the large square) And even "the
marvelous place of the powerful king" according to the 18th dynasty .
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