Temple of Edfu

The Temple of Edfu is a magnificent and well-preserved ancient Egyptian temple located in the city of Edfu, on the west bank of the Nile. Built during the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC, it stands as one of the best examples of ancient Egyptian architecture. The temple was dedicated to Horus, who was identified with Apollo in Greek mythology.

This grand structure provides important insights into language, myth, and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt. Its inscribed building texts not only reveal details about its construction but also shed light on its mythical interpretation as "the Island of Creation." The walls are adorned with scenes from the Sacred Drama that depict the age-old conflict between Horus and Seth.

The Temple's layout includes a main entrance leading to a pillared hall, two transverse halls, and a barque sanctuary surrounded by nine chapels. It was built under multiple rulers from different dynasties such as Ramesses I, Seti I, Ramesses II before falling into disuse after being persecuted by Emperor Theodosius I in 391 AD.

For centuries it remained buried beneath layers of sand until it was rediscovered by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette in 1860. Today it stands nearly intact at an impressive height of 36 meters with dimensions measuring at 79 meters long and 76 meters wide.

In addition to its archaeological significance and state of preservation making it a popular tourist attraction for those visiting Egypt via riverboats cruising down the Nile River; there have been recent developments made for easier access including a visitor center and paved carpark added in 2005 along with lighting systems installed later allowing night visits.

Aside from its architectural beauty, this temple holds great religious importance as well. Dedicated primarily to Horus and Hathor (of Dendera), Edfu served as one of their largest temples where annual festivals were held to celebrate their sacred marriage. The creation myth of this temple is depicted in various scenes around its perimeter walls, telling the story of how land and water came into existence with the help of gods such as Thoth, Seshat, and Ptah.

The foundation ritual for the Temple of Edfu was a complex process that involved laying out the ground plan using the stretching-the-cord ritual and concluding with a ceremony where 60 gods formed a living wall around it for protection against external threats.

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