TEMPLE OF EDFU

Edfu... a stunning sight and a major stop on a Nile cruise!

Located halfway between Luxor and Aswan, this colossal temple is dedicated to Horus, the falcon god.

Its construction began in 237 BCE under Ptolemy III and was completed in 57 BCE under Ptolemy XII.

Its façade, also referred to as a pylon, rises to an impressive height of 118 feet (36 meters)!

It is the best-preserved temple in the entire Nile Valley, showcasing the grandeur of ancient Egyptian architecture.

Just behind the pylon lies the temple's first courtyard.

This courtyard served as a gathering place for ceremonies dedicated to Horus, the falcon god.

The courtyard is surrounded by towering columns.

At the entrance to the hypostyle hall, two magnificent statues of Horus, the falcon god, stand as symbolic protectors of the temple.

These two statues, carved from black granite, date back to the Ptolemaic era.

In front of Horus, between his paws, you can spot a small statue; it appears to be a depiction of Ptolemy XV, also known as Caesarion, son of Cleopatra VII.

Let us step inside... The hypostyle hall features twelve massive columns, each over 49 feet (15 meters) tall, supporting a stone roof.

These columns, adorned with floral and palm motifs, symbolize life and fertility in ancient Egypt.

The enclosure wall, standing between 33 and 39 feet (10 to 12 meters) tall, is carved with bas-reliefs and hieroglyphs, forming an immense comic strip recounting over 200 years of history!

Here is the god Thoth, depicted as the deity of wisdom, writing, and knowledge.

And here, through meticulously detailed hieroglyphs, a scene depicts the pharaoh presenting offerings to the gods.

At the heart of the Edfu Temple lies the Naos, the most sacred room, where the granite shrine is located.

This space also housed the solar barque (a reproduction is shown here), the central piece in rituals honoring Horus during the Ptolemaic era.

It is time to leave the incredible Temple of Edfu.

During my first visit to Egypt in 2002, Edfu left a lasting impression on me with its remarkable state of preservation and grandeur.

All photos of the Temple of Edfu © 2002 and 2010 by Richard Soberka