Edfu Temple

Egypt contains many wonderful attractions including Giza Pyramids in Cairo where the bodies of king Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus were ferried via the Nile for burial in the preparation for their journey to the afterlife, Aswan, Luxor, Sharm, Hurghada and more. Enjoy visiting Egypt with Shaspo tours. Choose from our wide selecion of Egypt Travel Packages and Aswan Tours.

One of the wonderful attractions in Egypt is Edfu Temple, It is located on the western bank of the Nile in the city of Edfu. It is an ancient Egyptian Temple, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt and second largest after Karnak. The temple was built during reigns of six Ptolemies. It was dedicated to Horus, the falcon headed god.

They found inscriptions on the temple’s wall that provide us with information on language, myth and religion during the Greco-Roman period in ancient Egypt. There are also "important scenes and inscriptions of the Sacred Drama which related the age-old conflict between Horus and Seth.

There is an earlier and smaller pylon of Ramesses II which sits in a 90 degree angle to the current building. The main building, which includes a great Hypostyle Hall, was uncovered by Mariette in the 1860s.There are numerous reliefs, including a depiction of the Feast of the Beautiful Meeting, the annual reunion between Horus and his wife Hathor. The reliefs are mostly situated on the inside of the first pylon, and spiritually connect this temple with Hathors Temple at the Dendera complex.

The building was started during the reign of Ptolemy III and completed in 57 BCE under Ptolemy XII. Most of the work continued throughout this period with a brief interlude of 20 years while there was unrest during the period of Ptolemy IV and Ptolemy V Epiphanes. It was built on the site of an earlier, smaller temple also dedicated to Horus, although the previous structure was oriented east-west rather than north-south as in the present site. The present temple, which was begun "on 23 August 237 BCE, initially consisted of a pillared hall, two transverse halls, and a barque sanctuary surrounded by chapels.

The temple of Edfu is the largest temple dedicated to Horus and Hathor of Dendera.[10] It was the center of several festivals sacred to Horus. Each year, "Hathor travelled south from her temple at Denderah to visit Horus at Edfu, and this event marking their sacred marriage was the occasion of a great festival and pilgrimage.

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