The Horus Temple at Edfu

TM

Temple Tour continued from Luxor to Aswan

From Luxor we follow the river Nile to Aswan. On our way we visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the Temple of Haroeris and Sobek at Kom Ombo.

The Temple at Edfu, dedicated to the God Horus is the most complete and best preserved example of phaonic architecture. It is built on an ancient holy site. Ceremonially the Horus temple was linked with the Hathor Temple at Dendera. When the 'Feast of the Beautiful Meeting' was celebrated, the statue of Hathor, accompanied by celebrants, sailed in her barque up the river to Horus' temple for the two to be united and share the sanctuary. At night the God and Goddess retired to the Mamissi (birthhouse). Hmmm, so romantic....
On the wall we find scenes of the annual ritual of the Triumph of Horus (and the reigning pharao) in the mystery play in which Horus slays Seth in the shape of a hippopotamus.


The Horus Temple at Edfu

The double Temple of Kom Ombo is dedicated to Haroeris (Horus the elder) and the crocodile-god Sobek. Kom Ombo stands on a plateau right on the riverbank, retaining its solitude and grandeur. The temple is divided between the two Gods. The design reflects this duality in its double gateways, ceremonial hallways and shrines. The temple is honeycombed with crypts and secret passages, a tunnel runs under the floor to a room which was the priest's hole - the source of the God's human voices.
Carvings on the wall show medical instruments.
In the temple of the 'hearing ear' we find carvings of ears, hearing pilgrims' prayers and sacred eyes symbolizing wholeness and health for the pilgrims. Next to the main temple is a small building with mummified crocodiles.

The Temple of Haroeris and Sobek at Kom Ombo

Lying at the southern most border of ancient Egypt, Aswan is truly the jewel of the Nile. We have arrived in the land of the beautiful featured dark-skinned Nubians. The cliffs, which surround the river, supplied the pharaos with pink granite for their temples and tombs. An enormous unfinished obelisk gives us insight in the method the ancient Egyptians used to seperate the giant stone from the rock.
Aswan is a quiet, relaxing little town with sheldered cool gardens and tree-lined avenues. This area is famous for its Oriental herbs and spices that you can find in the 3 kilometer long colourful Suq (native bazaar). You can get aboard a fellucca to sail to the west bank of the river to visit the lushy botanical Kitchener's Island, the mausoleum of Aga Khan, the ruins of the Coptic monastry of St. Simeon and Elephantine Island to visit the museum and a native Nubian village. If you are missing the gym or your morning work-outs, here is a chance for some physical excercise. Climb the nearly vertical stairways to the tombs in the steep hillside. However, if you feel you've seen enough... Aswan is the perfect place to relax and to enjoy the beauty of the Nile.

Aswan

The Temple of the Goddess Isis on Philae 'Island from the Time of Re' is a fusion of Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilazations. The temple-complex, unsurpassed in its harmony and remarkably intact, nestles in one of Egypt's most beautiful settings, the island floats as a jewel in a pool of royal blue. This templesite has a quiet, mystique, female aura. Isis' cult was so powerful that even in the Roman period pilgrims from all corners of the empire traveled to Philae to invoke the goddess's healing powers.

The Temple of Isis on the island of Philae

Threatened by the waters which would rise with the completion of the High Dam, the two temples of Abu Simbel were cut into blocks and piece by piece reassembled in their new position. The facade of the Suntemple of Ramesses II is awesome with four giant colossi of 20 meters of the famous pharao. Along the top, a troop of baboons face east to greet the rising sun. Inside we find two cut-rock halls connected to the sactuary with statues of the gods worshipped in this temple: Ptah, Re-Harakhate, Amun-Re and of course Ramesses II himself.

The temples of Ramses II and Nefertari at Abu Simbel

The second temple at Abu Simbel is the Hathor Temple of queen Nefertari. The colums in the hall show the Goddess Hathor facing the central isle. On the wall scenes we see the queen participating in the ritual as an equal to her husband. On the wallscene of the sanctuary, Nefertari is offering incense to Mut and Hathor.

Abu Simbel lies 270 km south of Aswan. It can be reached by air, which takes about half an hour or you by bus, leaving early in the morning. This takes about 3 hours.


In case you visit the temples of Egypt for the first time you might be a bit overwhelmed by all the different Godforms that you see on the templewalls and as statues. In order for you to prepare yourself for your visit at the temples, you will be profided the evening before with hand-outs with descriptions of the places, but also of the Gods and Goddesses.
All temples have a place called 'the holiest of the holiest' where only the highpriests were allowed. Some temples have more than one powerplace. We will show you these places. They might reveil something to you.

© Ancient Egypt Tours

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