Temple of Edfu

Edfu Temple, also known as the Ptolemaic temple which is an Egyptian temple situated on the west bank of the Nile in Edfu, Upper Egypt. The city was referred to in the Greek time frame as Apollonopolis Magna, after the central god Horus, who was distinguished as Apollo under the translation graeca. It is outstanding amongst other protected places of worship in Egypt. The temple was built in the Ptolemaic Realm somewhere in the range of “237 and 57 BC”. The engravings on its walls give significant data on language, fantasy, and religion during the Greek time frame in Egypt.

  
Furthermore, the Temple's engraved structure messages give information, not only, of its development, but also to protect data about the legendary translation of this and every other temple as the “Island of Creation” as well. There are additionally significant scenes and inscriptions or engravings of the “Sacred Drama” which relates to the well-established clash among Horus and Seth transcribed by the “German Edfu-design”. It is a really fine case of an incredibly very much safeguarded and amazing temple that of Edfu, near Luxor along the Nile River. It is referred to as Horus Temple as it was named after the “Falcon-headed God, Horus.” 
 

It takes about 1 hour 50 m drive by road from Luxor or by the overnight Nile cruise from Luxor (115 km south of Luxor) and around 1 hour 40 m drive from Aswan by road and an overnight cruise from Aswan (105 km north of Aswan). It is a halting spot for a large portion of the Nile cruises and one of the four temples and spots where the occasions of the legend of “Osiris, Isis, and Horus” occur. 
 

This Ptolemaic Temple at Edfu which was built from “257—337 BC”, is, indeed, the best-conserved and one of the best temples in Egypt. Being constructed in such a great pharaonic style, it gives a perfect picture of the appearance and goal of such a marvelous Egyptian Temple, with the clarifications recorded on its walls. The site was picked in light of the fact that the “Falcon-headed God Horus” battled here, in this specific place, with Seth to control the world. The guests approach the Temple from the back as it is ideal to begin or start the journey from Pylon the First, fronted by the two there. Sculptures within its walls record the yearly-held Celebration of the Lovely Gathering, where the statue of Horus joined that of Hathor at her Temple located in the area of Dendara. The yearly-held Celebration Lobby and plans for incense and perfumes display the walls of a little side chamber. Over the New Year Festival, the sculpture of Horus was moved on to the rooftop to be revived and reawakened by the sun. You can also see the British Horus being placed outside of the temple breast-feeding by his mother Isis. 

There are a number of temples that were constructed during the Ptolemaic Realm; Edfu temple and “Dendera temple complex, Esna, the temple of Kom Ombo, and Philae” as well. Its size mirrors the general success of that period of time. The current temple, which was started on “23 August 237 BC,” is at first composed of a pillared hallway, two crossed corridors, and a barque asylum encompassed by houses of prayer. The structure was begun during the sovereignty of “Ptolemy III Euergetes” and finished in “57 BC under Ptolemy XII Auletes.” It was constructed on the site of a prior, littler sanctuary likewise devoted to Horus, in spite of the fact that the past building was arranged east-west as opposed to north-south as in the current site. A demolished pylon lies just toward the east of the present temple; inscriptional proof has been established demonstrating a structured program under the New Realm rulers “Ramesses I, Seti I, and Ramesses II.”

The conserved in the internal asylum is “naos of Nectanebo II,” a trace from a previous structure that lies separately whilst the temple's barque sanctuary is encircled by 9 houses of prayer. Edfu Temple is neglected as a sacred landmark following Theodosius I's oppression of agnostics and proclamation prohibiting non-Christian worship inside the Roman Domain in 391. As somewhere else, a large number of the sanctuary's sculptured reliefs were demolished by adherents of the Christian faith who came to rule Egypt. The darkened roof of the hypostyle lobby, clearly today, is accepted to be the outcome of illegal conflagration expected to demolish the sacred symbolism that was at that time viewed as agnostic. 

Throughout the years, the temple got covered to about 12 meters underneath floating desert sand and levels of river mud kept by the Nile. Nearby occupants constructed their homes right over the previous temple yard. Just the upper levels of the temple pylons were apparent by 1798 when the temple was distinguished by a French campaign. “In 1860 Auguste Mariette, a French Egyptologist started releasing the temple of Edfu from the sands over it.”

Edfu Temple is practically integral, perfect, and a generally excellent sample of an old Egyptian temple. Its archeological signification and high condition of conservation have made it the core or heart-like for the travel industry in Egypt and a constant stop for the numerous Nile cruises sailing the Nile. In 2005, the entrance of the temple was modified with the expansion of a guest. An elaborated lighting framework was included later on in 2006 to permit night visits and tours as well. 

Past the “Roman mammisi (birth house),” with some bright carvings, the enormous 36m-high arch (entryway) is protected by two immense yet awe-inspiring stone sculptures of Horus the falcon. The walls are ornamented and beautified with giant reliefs of “Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos'' holding the adversaries by the hair before Horus and crushing the skulls; this is the exemplary promulgation posture of the god-like pharaoh. Furthermore, we can see that the court of contributions is encircled on three sides by 32 columns, each with various botanical capitals. The walls are ornamented with reliefs, as well as the “Feast of the Beautiful Meeting” within the gateway. The gathering of Horus of Edfu and Hathor of Dendara, who saw the temples of each other every year to find out that fourteen days later of incredible fruitful festivities, they were mystically joined together. 

The second arrangement of Horus falcon sculptures in dark stone once joined the entryway to the temple's first or external hypostyle lobby, yet today just one remains. Within the entrance of the external hypostyle hallway, to one side and right, are two little chambers: on the right was the library of the temple where the ceremonial writings were kept; while the hall of sanctifications was on the other side, a sacristy where newly washed robes and ceremonial jars were stored. There are about 12 columns in the hall itself, and the walls are beautified with reliefs of the temple's establishment. 

There are also 12 columns within the inward hypostyle, and in the upper left piece of the corridor is maybe this present temple's most fascinating chamber: the laboratory of the temple. In this specific place, all the fundamental perfumes and sweet recipes were precisely picked and kept with the components recorded on the walls. While leaving the inward hypostyle hall out of the huge in-between gateway to access the offering chamber, or first waiting room, which has a special stepped area where everyday contributions of fruit, blossoms, wine, milk, and different nourishments were stored. You can have a lovely view there, just go to the west side, about 242 steps paved to the way to the housetop and its awesome scene of the Nile and the interconnecting fields. 

The subsequent chamber offers access to Horus temple, which includes the polished-granite place of worship that once was the house of the gold faction Horus statue. Built during the rule of “Nectanebo II (360–343 BC),” this holy place, or house/place of the god, was used once more by the Ptolemies in the new temple. Before it stands a reproduction of the wooden barque (boat-like) in which the statue of Horus would be removed from the temple in the parade during the happy events or festivals: the first is presently in the Louver, Paris. On the eastern yard wall, search for the remaining parts of the Nilometer, which estimated the degree of the waterway (the river) and anticipated the coming harvest period.