In the sacred silence of Edfu, the stones bear witness to the divine echoes of a civilization's heart, and the footsteps of gods and pharaohs resonate through time.
Step back in time and journey to the heart of ancient Egypt, where history and grandeur meet at the Temple of Edfu. Nestled on the west bank of the Nile River, this magnificent temple is a testament to the enduring legacy of the pharaohs. Join us on a virtual expedition to unravel the secrets of Edfu, where each stone whispers tales of divine worship and architectural marvels.
What is the Temple of Edfu?
The Temple of Edfu was dedicated to the Great God Horus. It is the best-preserved temple in Egypt and the most important after the temple of Karnak. It measures 137 meters long by 79 meters wide and 36 meters high. It represents the typical construction of the temples with the pylon.
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Who was God Horus? & Dedication of the Temple
Horus was son of Isis and Osiris. He was a representation of justice, as he took revenge on God Set, who killed his father, God Osiris, so he was well-known as “His Father’s Guardian”.
God Horus, characterized by a human body with a falcon’s head, was one of the most important Gods in ancient Egypt, not only for of his mythology or his lineage but also because each Egyptian king, when he assumed authority, was conceived as the carnal image of Horus on earth. As a result not, it is surprising that the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the largest in Egypt, was founded in his honor.
Witness the divine presence of God Horus at Edfu Temple with Egypt Tours Group
Edfu Temple Location
The temple of Edfu, located in the city of the same name (Edfu), is situated on the west bank of the Nile, 115 km south of Luxor City and 105 km north of Aswan City.
Map indicating the strategic location of Edfu Temple.
Who constructed the Temple of Edfu?
Ptolemy III – Eurergetes I started the construction of the temple mostly in 237 BC, but the temple wasn’t completed until about 57 BC.
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Who discovered Edfu Temple?
The Temple was buried in the sand, secured in the heart of the desert for several centuries until it was excavated in the year 1860 by the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette.
Archaeologists unveiling the temple’s hidden history.
What makes Edfu’s Temple of Horus significant?
The Temple of Edfu is very significant because it reflects the mixture of the Pharaonic culture of ancient Egypt and the Ptolemaic culture. Inscriptions on its walls provided valuable knowledge about religion, mythology and language during the Hellenistic period in Egypt.
Unravel the historical importance of Edfu’s Temple of Horus with Egypt Tours Group.
History of the Temple of Edfu
Ptolemy III began the construction of the temple in 237 BC, and it was completed about 57 BC. So, it is thought that it took about 180 years to complete the construction. The temple is a Temple of Horus (the falcon-headed Egyptian god). It was built on an earlier temple. Greek Empire rulers ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 331 BC. They were called the Ptolemaic Dynasty. You can see how the builders and artists mixed together Egyptian and Greek styles.
The Ptolemaic Dynasty ruled Egypt from 323 BC to 30 BC. They built several temple complexes, including Edfu and Dendera. Ptolemy III Euergetes started building the Temple of Edfu in 237 BC. With the coming of Christianity in 391 AD, when paganism was prohibited, the temple was left alone under the sand for several centuries until the discovery of the temple once again in 1860 AD by the great French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette.
Embark on a historical journey through the Temple of Edfu with Egypt Tours Group.
Description of the Temple of Edfu
Intricate Architecture
The Temple of Horus at Edfu is one of the most complete and best-preserved ancient temple structures in Egypt. It consists of:
At the entrance, there is a cafeteria and a place to park vehicles.
The Pylon: The entrance of the Temple of Horus at Edfu is an impressive pylon. It is 36 m tall and 80 m wide. The pylon is a monumental gateway. It consists of two tapering towers. There are reliefs decorating the Twin Towers. These pictures are mirror images of each other that show Ptolemy XII defeating his enemies.
Two granite statues: Two falcon statues are at the entrance gate.
The Courtyard: Following the entrance, there are relief pictures of a feast of the gods. The courtyard is ringed on three sides with thirty-two columns that form a covered colonnade. There is a destroyed granite statue of the falcon god and a well-preserved one.
The Great Outer Hall: Following the Courtyard is the huge Outer Hall that is made of twelve columns arranged in two rows. The capitals and the ceiling are adorned with astronomical pictures.
The Inner Hall: Following the Outer Hall is the Inner Hall. There are twelve columns in three rows. The columns are lit in various colors. There are three small rooms decorated with reliefs.
The Hall of Offerings: Following the Inner Hall is a narrow room that was used for the burning of offerings of food and oil.
The Antechamber: This is a room at the entrance of the Naos.
The Naos: This room was built by Nectanebo II. It is thought to be the oldest part of the temple. It has a replica of a boat that is thought to have been there originally.
Other rooms: There are other rooms to explore that were thought to be storage rooms and places to make oils and scents for use in the temple. Some chambers have recipes for making the oils and scents.
Edfu Temple: Reliefs and Points of Interest
The Temple of Edfu has a Nilometer. The Nilometer was accessed from the Inner passage that surrounded the sanctuary.
- On the northern wall of the court, there is a relief that represents the divine marriage of Goddess Hathor and God Horus of Behdet. The marriage was celebrated twice a year, the first one at the Temple of Edfu and the second one at the Dendera Temple.
- The northern wall of the court contains the Journey of Goddess Hathor from the city of Dendera to Edfu and vice versa.
- The Temple of Horus contains several battle scenes together with the famous scene of the Ceremonious of the Temple foundation.
- Inside the western outer corridor, there is a relief that represents the legend of the conflict between God Horus and God Seth, the subsequent victory of God Horus and his ultimate coronation to rule the whole world.
- Inside the sun court, there are descriptions of the voyage of Goddess Nut on her solar boat throughout the twelve hours of daylight.
Conclusion:
Edfu Temple, devoted to the Great God Horus, stands as an extraordinary relic of ancient Egypt. This well-preserved treasure, blending Pharaonic and Ptolemaic influences, offers invaluable insights into Hellenistic Egypt’s culture, language, and beliefs.
Constructed over 180 years, the temple showcases the fusion of Egyptian and Greek styles, reflecting Egypt’s rich history. Buried for centuries, it was rediscovered in 1860 by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette.
As you explore its halls and reliefs, Edfu Temple immerses you in a world of divine unions, cosmic journeys, and epic battles, leaving you in awe of Egypt’s enduring grandeur.
