Edfu
Location
About
Edfu houses the Temple of Horus, the most completely preserved ancient Egyptian temple and the second largest after Karnak, built during the Ptolemaic period on a site sacred to Horus since prehistoric times. Its towering entrance pylons rise 36 meters above the Nile valley.
Significance
The Temple of Edfu preserves extraordinarily detailed Ptolemaic ritual texts on its walls, providing the most complete picture of daily temple ritual in ancient Egypt. The annual Festival of the Joyous Union, when Hathor's statue sailed from Dendera to be united with Horus at Edfu, was one of ancient Egypt's most celebrated events.
History & Historical Arc
Horus has been worshipped at Edfu since at least the Old Kingdom; the current temple was built between 237 and 57 BCE an…
Archaeological Notes
The temple's exceptionally complete inscription program includes detailed descriptions of its own construction — a uniqu…
Key Features & Structures
- Twin pylons
- Birth House (Mammisi)
Visitor Information
Edfu is accessible by cruise ship, train, or road between Luxor and Aswan; the site is open daily and is usually visited…
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Cauville, S., Le Temple d'Edfou (1984)
- Fairman, H.W., The Triumph of Horus (1974)