What is so special about the temple in Edfu?

What is so special about the temple in Edfu?

It is one of the best preserved shrines in Egypt. The temple was built in the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt.

How do I get to Edfu temple?

There are a number of ways to get to Edfu. From Aswan it is a 2 hour drive, and from Luxor it is just over 2 hours. You can hire a taxi driver to take you to Edfu from either of these cities on either a half or full day trip. There are also trains that visit Edfu from Luxor and Aswan.

What is Edfu famous for?

The town is known for the major Ptolemaic temple, built between 237 BC and 57 BC, into the reign of Cleopatra VII. Of all the temple remains in Egypt, the Temple of Horus at Edfu is the most completely preserved.

Why was the Edfu temple built?

The Edfu temple was built on the land believed to have witnessed the greatest battle in the history of the ancient Egyptian Mythology between the powers of good and evil in the image of the ancient Egyptian gods of Horus and Set.

How old is temple of Edfu?

Built from 237 – 57 BCE It is dedicated to the falcon god, Horus. The temple was built on top of much older ruins dating back to Ramses III, and was constructed over the course of 180 years under a variety of rulers during the Ptolemaic period in Egypt.

Why is the Temple of Horus important?

It is the second largest temple in Egypt after Karnak. Important sacred site for ancient Egyptians because, according to ancient myth, this is where the falcon-headed god, Horus, fought a battle with his uncle, Seth, who had cruelly murdered Horus’s father Osiris. It was the center of several festivals sacred to Horus.

Who was the patron god of Pompeii?

Venus
Venus was the patron goddess of Pompeii, to whom the colony was named upon conclusion (80 BC), already worshiped in pre-Roman times and later was patron goddess of sailing.

How big is the Temple of Horus at Edfu?

451 feet
The chief monument of ancient Idfū is the great sandstone temple of Horus, 451 feet (138 metres) long and 250 feet (76 metres) wide, standing on the site of an earlier temple of the 18th-dynasty (1567–1320 bce) period.

What happened to mortuary temples during the New Kingdom?

In the New Kingdom (1539–1075 bce) the kings were buried in rock-cut tombs, but separate mortuary temples continued to be built nearby. All were provided with a staff of priests and assured of supplies through endowments of estates and lands, to ensure religious services and offerings in perpetuity.