Ancient Egyptian civilization remains deeply rooted in history. Its temples and monuments embody the greatness of this civilization and the Egyptians’ mastery of engineering, construction, and building. These ancient Egyptian temples and monuments are still a witness to the greatness of Egyptian history and civilization, and to this history.

 

 

Where is Edfu Temple located?

In the far south of Egypt, specifically in the city of Edfu, which is about 100 km (62 miles) north of Aswan and about 109 km (68 miles) south of Luxor. The city is visited through Nile cruises in Egypt. This huge building stands tall, telling a history and a period of Egyptian civilization.
It is the Temple of Edfu, the second largest Egyptian temple after Karnak. It is called the Temple of Falcone Heade God (Horus), which is located on the west bank of the River Nile in Egypt.

 

What are the features and layout of Edfu temple?

The temple follows the classic ancient Egyptian architectural layout, beginning with the tall main gate and extending to its smallest section, the Sanctuary, at the temple’s end.

The First Paylon: It includes a huge entrance (gate) 68 meters long and 34 meters high; at the huge wall, there are carved portraits of King Ptolemy XII as depicted as Pharaoh and striking enemies in front of the god Horus and the god Hathor (cow-headed goddess and the goddess of the Dendera region).

The Large Courtyard: inside the temple, there is a spacious open hall, with dimensions 46 meters long and 42 meters wide, with a stone floor and 32 columns with capitals in plant shapes, in addition to engravings of the king offering sacrifices to different gods and goddesses; as well there is an depiction for the besutiful meeting between the god Horus and his waife Goddess Hathor.
In the main hall, there are two black granite statues of a falcon that decorate the temple’s second entrance. Each statue is carved from a single piece of stone.

The great hypostyle halls: They contain 18 columns, and then there is a small hypostyle hall containing 12 columns. In addition, there is a small courtyard that contains A shrine with two columns with plant-shaped capitals.

The Holy of Holies, situated at the end of the temple, was the most sacred place, where only the Pharaoh, accompanied by the high priest, was permitted to enter. It contained the holy boat of the god, which was used for sacred journeys to transfer the holy gods between temples during feasts in ancient Egypt.

Around the building of the temple, there are ten halls for performing ancient Egyptian religious rituals, such as the Perfumary, library, storage room for the gifts, as well as a Nilometer.

 

 

When was the Temple of Edfu built?

The Temple of Edfu was built during the Ptolemaic era as an attempt to merge the Egyptian and Greek civilizations

The construction of the temple began in the reign of Ptolemy III in 237 BC and ended in 57 BC. Building of the temple took 180 years and was dedicated to the worship of Horus, Hathor, and his son Horus Samtawy, or Horus the Child. These two were adopted as the trinity of the Temple of Edfu, as it is known that every temple has a sacred trinity. Horus symbolizes truth, goodness, and vengeance. The Temple of Edfu is one of the most important completed Egyptian temples, preserving its magnificent architectural elements. It consists of a pylon, an open courtyard, a large hypostyle hall, a small hypostyle hall, an offering hall, a sanctuary, and a group of rooms surrounding the sanctuary.

 

When was the temple discovered?

The temple was discovered in 1860 AD by the famous French archaeologist Auguste Mariette, who excavated the temple’s soil after it had been completely buried under sand. French soldiers and commanders during Napoleon Bonaparte’s campaign in Egypt reached this temple and inscribed their names on the top of the eastern pylon on the temple’s ceiling.

 

Facts about Edfu Temple.

The building of the Edfu Temple used a mix of classic Egyptian styles and new ideas from Hellenistic civilization. The temple, which is mostly made of sandstone, shows how skilled the artists and engineers of the time were. The size of Edfu, with its tall walls and detailed sculptures, shows how much the ancient Egyptians loved their gods and how good they were at building things. The temple was not just a place to pray, but it was also a location where people could do a lot of different religious and cultural things.

The Temple of Edfu in Aswan also witnesses a unique astronomical phenomenon, as the sun aligns directly with the temple’s sacred rooms, marking the beginning of summer, according to the calendar established by the ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago.

The temple suffered from nature and humanity; as many cotton merchants used it as a store for the Egyptian cotton, so there are many damages I the roof. Today, restoration work is still going on to protect the temple from damage caused by the weather. These steps are important not just for keeping the building in good shape, but also for keeping its historical value. The preservation of Edfu Temple lets people in the future enjoy the art and architecture of ancient Egypt.

The carvings and inscriptions of the temple are a very important source for archaeologists, Egyptologists, and historians. This is because the temple is full of depictions of daily life for ancient Egyptians, the gods’ relationship with the pharaohs, and ancient Egyptian industry and agriculture.

 

How to Get to Edfu Temple?

Edfu Temple is easy to get to from Aswan and Luxor and is in a good spot. People can get to the temple from any city by renting a car, Taxi, or train. Taking a train from Aswan to Edfu is the most common way to get there. It gives you a beautiful view of the Egyptian countryside. But the main visit to the Edfu temple is the Nile cruise from Aswan, or get a Nile cruise from Luxor.

 

Is it possible to go to Edfu Temple on a Nile cruise?

Yes, a lot of Nile cruise itineraries include a stop on the east bank of the Nile at Edfu Temple, which lets travelers see this historic monument as part of their trip.

 

Why You Should Explore Edfu by Nile Cruise?

Taking a Nile cruise to see the Edfu Temple gives you a different view of the environment and historical importance of ancient Egypt. A cruise is a great way to see the sights along the Nile, which has been the lifeblood of Egyptian civilization for thousands of years. A cruise on the Nile not only gets you from one place to another, but it also gives you a full travel experience, with both sightseeing and relaxation.