Edfu Temple

Edfu Temple

1. Located on the west bank of the Nile in the city of Edfu.

2. It is one of the best preserved temples in Egypt.

3. The temple is dedicated to the falcon god Horus, was built in the Ptolemaaic period between 237 and 57 BCE.

4. Greeks identified Horus as Apollo.

5. Unusual - on WEST bank and NORTH - SOUTH oriented.

6. Built on top of earlier, smaller New Kingdom temple

7. Used by successive generations including early Coptic Christians - defaced images

8. Inscription spanning 300m on outer wall outlines details of construction, layout, functions and meanings of temple features.

9. Translated - helps scholars understand Edfu and other Egyptian temples.

10. "This perfect place, the nome (district) of Edfu, is his horizon on earth, is the House of Appearance of Horus, is the Great Throne of his Ka[...] He appears in the morning and sets in the evening..."

11. Grand Approach

    • Believed to have featured same aspects of other temples, #Temenos Enclosure Wall # Processional route "Avenue of the falcon".

12. Pylons

    • Among the highest still surviving - 37m high
      • Depicts King Ptolemy VIII smiting enemies before Horus
        • Pylons perfectly mirror each other
          • Statues of Horus flank gate
            • "Two pylon towers 129 cubits long[...]they have been decorated in accordance with the texts and all instructions to ward off the foreigners"
              • Between the pylon towers is a large decorated gate[...]flagpoles of conifer wood reach up to heaven and are covered with bronze; they are the two sisters Isis and Nephtys"
                • "Its perfect doors from genuine conifer wood[...]all the lions of the bolts are ready to act against the foreigners. Its great doors repel the enemies and its walls keep out the foes"

13. Peristyle Court

    • Surrounded by colonnade of 2 paired columns of various types - papyrus, palms.
      • Public allowed access during festivals
        • Doors in corners lead to temple 'ambulatory', where there are scenes depicting the myth of Horus v Seth

14. Festival of Victory

    • Reliefs depict the victory of Horus over Seth and the associated 'Festival of Victory'
      • Seth shown as a hippotamus - king or priest acting as Horus pierces animal 10 times
        • Hippo-shaped cake solemnly cut up and eaten by priests and participants during festival.

15. Hypostyle Halls

    • First - 12 columns, reliefs showing founding ceremony of temple
      • Libary/archive and robing rooms
        • Second- 12 columns, room for preparing incense

16. Sanctuary

    • Contains original granite naos from earlier temple.
      • Pedestal in front for resting divine barque
        • Floor slopes upward

17. Other Chapels

    • Other chapels and storerooms surround inner sanctum
      • Chapels to Min, Osiris, Khonsu, Hathor, Re - visiting gods able to rest in own chapel

18. Mammisi - Birth House

    • Built to celebrate the birth of the gods and the king.
      • Worship of Hathor as a mother and her son Harsomtus.
        • King (Ptolemy VIII) making offerings.