Temple of Edfu
About Temple of Edfu
Situated on the bank of the Nile river between Esna and Aswan, the temple of Edfu (also known as Idfu or Edfou) is one of the best preserved ancient temples in exisence. It is one big temple - considered the second largest temple after Karnak.
The Temple of Edfu was built during the reigns of six Ptolemies, and construction lasted from 237 BC to 57 BC. It was dedicated to the falcon god of Horus, and the temple walls are covered with numerous inscriptions, hieroglyphs, and carvings that depict stores and scenes related to the god, his reunionis with his wife Hathor, festivals, and more. All of these carvings were made directly into the sandstone walls.
The Edfu temple fell into disuse when Theodosius I's edict banned non-Christian worship in 391, and over time, became burried under drifitng desert stands to the point where only the upper temple pylons were visible in 1798. It was rediscovered and excavated in earnest during a archaeological expedition in 1860.
The Edfu Temple features a main archway with a main buildling, the great Hypostyle Hall, the Chamber of the Nile, a smaller Hypostyle Hall, chapels, chambers, tombs, and more.
The Temple of Edfu was built during the reigns of six Ptolemies, and construction lasted from 237 BC to 57 BC. It was dedicated to the falcon god of Horus, and the temple walls are covered with numerous inscriptions, hieroglyphs, and carvings that depict stores and scenes related to the god, his reunionis with his wife Hathor, festivals, and more. All of these carvings were made directly into the sandstone walls.
The Edfu temple fell into disuse when Theodosius I's edict banned non-Christian worship in 391, and over time, became burried under drifitng desert stands to the point where only the upper temple pylons were visible in 1798. It was rediscovered and excavated in earnest during a archaeological expedition in 1860.
The Edfu Temple features a main archway with a main buildling, the great Hypostyle Hall, the Chamber of the Nile, a smaller Hypostyle Hall, chapels, chambers, tombs, and more.
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First To Review:
May 31, 2009
If you have trouble imagining what a complete temple would have looked like in ancient times you have to go and see this one. Even if it is just for the huge entrance gate, that just swept me away.
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