Dates: Jan 3, 2020

Route: Drove from Aswan.

About halfway between Aswan and Luxor lies the Temple of Edfu on the West bank of the Nile. The temple, dedicated to Horus, is a mix of Egyptian and Roman influences. The temple is remarkably well preserved as it was buried by sand over 200 years ago. It was excavated in the mid-19thcentury and is a great example of Ptolemaic architecture. The temple is entered via a Roman mammisi (birth house) which has some colorful carvings. The entrance is a massive 120ft pylon (gateway) that is guarded by two beautiful granite statues of Horus as a falcon. Beyond the entryway is the Court of Offerings that is surrounded on three sides by 32 massive columns that have different floral reliefs. Past this lie the outer and inner hypostyle halls which also have columns and many varied reliefs about the temple’s founding. On the right side of the inner hypostyle is a stairway that had some very stark reliefs and depictions. The final attraction is a antechamber which gives access to the sanctuary of Horus and contains the polished granite shrine that once held a gold statue of Hours. This is a temple that is well worth seeing.

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