The temple of Edfu

On the West bank of the Nile, in hundred of kilometres in the South of Luxor, raises itself the temple of Edfou. This temple, dedicated to the god Horus and to his family (Hathor his wife and Harsomtous his son), is the second biggest temple of Egypt and especially, best preserved because for a long time it was completely cover by sand.

The temple of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)	The temple of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)
The temple of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)	The temple of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)

Before penetrating into the temple, you can find on the left, a small temple: the temple of the birth. In this Nammisi (place of delivery in Coptic tongue), you can see the wedding of Horus and Hathor, as well as the birth of their son Harsomptous.

The Namissi of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)	The Namissi of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)
The Namissi of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)	Details of the Namissi (click on the photo to enlarge)

The pylones of outside of the temple, the height of 40m show Ptoleme XII massacring his enemies in front of Horus and Hathor. You also can see there king making offerings to the gods, on the high part of pylones.

Ptoleme XII massacring his enemies in front of Horus (on the left part) (click on the photo to enlarge)	Ptoleme XII massacring his enemies in front of Horus (on the right part) (click on the photo to enlarge)
Ptoleme making offerings to gods (on the left part) (click on the photo to enlarge)
Ptoleme making offerings to gods (on the right part) (click on the photo to enlarge)

The outside of the temple is guarded by 2 statues of black granite Horus.

Statues of Horus outdoor the temple (click on the photo to enlarge)
Horus (click on the photo to enlarge)	Horus (click on the photo to enlarge)

Once the door was crossed, you arrive in a paved court surrounded on 3 sides of columns: the peristyle. The walls of this court are completely covered with scenes of offerings to the Gods. This court brings to 2 rooms hypostyle of the temple the door of which is guarded by a statue of Horus wearing the crown of the High and the Lower Egypt. Rooms hypostyle are decorated with scenes telling the construction of the temple, as well as diverse scenes of offerings. In the second room, you can find a small room called the room of flavors. On wall of this room, are engraved the formulae of perfumes and ointments necessary for the various rites of the temple.

The court peristyle (click on the photo to enlarge)	The court peristyle (click on the photo to enlarge)
Horus wearing the crown of the High and the Lower Egypt (click on the photo to enlarge)
The first hypostyle (click on the photo to enlarge)	The second hypostyle (click on the photo to enlarge)
Details of the room of flavors (click on the photo to enlarge)

After the second room hypostyle, is the central room of the temple, consisted of Naos and numerous chapel. It is in this " saint of the saints " that you can see a sacred boat.

The Naos of Edfu

(click on the photo to enlarge)

The sacred boat

(click on the photo to enlarge)

Edfu is a magnificent temple which it is necessary absoluement to visit. There is no single wall which is not decorated. If you have the luck to have a little of time to promenade in the various rooms, do not hesitate "to get lost" in this temple.

Details of the temple of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)	Details of the temple of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)
Details of the temple of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)	Details of the temple of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)
The temple of Edfu (click on the photo to enlarge)

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