About the Temple of Edfu

edfu temple 11

The provincial town of Edfu is located about halfway between Luxor (115km away) and Aswan (105km) and 65km north of Kom Ombo.
A very popular destination, Edfu is included in virtually all

Egypt

ian tour itineraries and can be reached by taxi or by cruise on the Nile followed by a caleche ride.
Edfu is was the 2nd Nome of Upper

Egypt

and the centre of the cult of a triad of Gods, which consisted of Horus of Behdet, The

goddess Hathor

, and their son, Hor- Sama-Tawy.

In the old Greek documents, Edfu was known as “Apollopolis Magna” because the Greeks identified Horus with their God Apollo.

Between Aswan and Luxor is located the major Ptolemaic Temple of Edfu - the best preserved cult Temple in

Egypt

.

The Temple is dedicated to the falcon god Horus ; who is one of the oldest and most significant deities in Ancient

Egypt

ian religion.

People worshiped him from the late Predynastic period through Greco-Roman times;and was built over a 180-year period from 237 BC to 57 BC.

It is located on the west bank of the River Nile between Aswan and Esna.

Of course those two destinations might not be too clear in your mind either but you can run over to Google and do a quick search to find exactly where they are.
Archaeologists found the Temple completely submerged beneath the desert.

The only thing sticking out of the top was the entrance pylon.

After they cleared out all the sand they discovered that the Temple was in nearly perfect condition which is very rare and quite a treat!
Yet despite its later date, the Temple was build at the dust

of

Egypt

ian civilization,
it exactly reflects traditional pharaonic architecture and so provides an excellent idea of how all the temples once looked.

Edfu is also very large:
the second largest in

Egypt

after Karnak Temple,with 137 meters length and whose pylons rise with 36 meters.
Built out of sandstone, its perfect proportions give the body to its harmonious plan.

The site was already important during High antiquity, as indicates the antiquated necropolis which was found there.

Its release became with Auguste Mariette, before only the top of the pylons emerged from the sands, its terraces were covered with recent and inhabited huts.

The relieves of the large pylon represent

Ptolemy

and some gods, the interior court is surrounded of colonnades.

The inscriptions of the walls tell with details the worship to Horus and the process of the four Great annual ceremonies.

On the enclosing wall, the account of the war is engraved which the divinities Rê and Horus against Seth delivered.
Edfu Temple consists of traditional elements

of

Egypt

ian Temples of
the New Kingdom, together with a few Greek elements, such as the Mamisi, which is situated to the west of the main entrance of the Temple .

It consists of an entrance, a court and chapel.

The walls of the mamisi are decorated with scenes showing the story of the divine birth of Horus the child, in the presence of the Goddess The

goddess Hathor

, the God Khenoum and other deities who were concerned with pregnancy and birth.

The Temple has a Pylon that is considered the highest among surviving Temples in

Egypt

today.
The pylons of Temple of

edfu

behind some of Edfu's buildings.

Seen from a cruise boat heading north to Luxor.

	edfu temple 1
edfu temple 10		edfu temple 11	edfu temple 12
edfu temple 13	edfu temple 2		edfu temple 3	edfu temple 5
	edfu temple 7	edfu temple 8		edfu temple Bas reliefs showing Egyptian gods thumb
edfu temple Bas reliefs with gods and pharaohs		edfu temple Bas relief depicting Horus	edfu temple Bas relief showingEgyptian gods
edfu temple Bas relief showing goddess Hathor the god Horus and a pharaoh	edfu temple Bas relief showing Horus		edfu temple Bas relief showing pharaoh	edfu temple birth house cc saulo
	edfu temple birth house w pylon cc adrian barnes	edfu temple boat		edfu temple Hypostyle hall columns
edfu temple interior walls		edfu temple main entrance	edfu temple Second hypostyle hall
edfu temple sound and light show	edfu temple Statue of Horus		edfu temple Statue of Horus 2	edfu temple The east wall with reliefs