Temple of Edfu

The Temple of Edfu is an ancient Egyptian temple located on the west bank of the Nile in the city of Edfu which was known in Greco-Roman times as Apollonopolis Magna, after the chief god Horus-Apollo. [David, Rosalie. Discovering Ancient Egypt, Facts on File, 1993. p.99] It is the second largest temple in Egypt after Karnak and one of the best preserved. The temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus, was built in the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BCE. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Greco-Roman period in ancient Egypt. In particular, the Temple's inscribed building texts "provide details [both] of its construction, and also preserve information about the mythical interpretation of this and all other temples as the Island of Creation." [David, op. cit., p.99] There are also "important scenes and inscriptions of the Sacred Drama which related the age-old conflict between Horus and Seth." [David, op. cit., p.99] They were translated by the German Edfu-Project.

History

Edfu was one of several temples built during the Ptolemaic period, including Dendera, Esna, Kom Ombo and Philae. Its size reflects the relative prosperity of the time. [Agnese, Giorgio and Maurizio Re. Ancient Egypt: Art and archaeology of the land of the pharaohs, 2004. p.23 ISBN 0-7607-8380-2] The present temple, which was begun "on 23 August 237 BCE, initially consisted of a pillared hall, two transverse halls, and a barque sanctuary surrounded by chapels." [Dieter Arnold, Nigel Strudwick & Sabine Gardiner, The Encyclopaedia of Ancient Egyptian Architecture, I.B. Tauris Publishers, 2003. p.78] The building was started during the reign of Ptolemy III and completed in 57 BCE under Ptolemy XII. It was built on the site of an earlier, smaller temple also dedicated to Horus, although the previous structure was oriented east-west rather than north-south as in the present site. A ruined pylon lies just to the east of the current temple; inscriptional evidence has been found indicating a building program under the New Kingdom rulers Ramesses I, Seti I and Ramesses II.

The temple of Edfu was dedicated by Ptolemy VIII on 10 September 142 BCE. [Arnold, Strudwick & Gardiner, op. cit., p.78] The front pranaos was built between 140-124 BCE and the construction of the temple's colonnaded court and 36 m high pylon followed between 116-71 BCE. [Arnold, Strudwick & Gardiner, op. cit., p.78] The pylon features an intriguing system of stairways and chambers, which receive light through slots in the facade. [Arnold, Strudwick & Gardiner, op. cit., p.78] To its east beside the courtyard are the remains of a pylon of Ramesses III, which faces towards the landing stage on the Nile. [Arnold, Strudwick & Gardiner, op. cit., p.78] The temple's:: "pranaos is 12.5 m high and 34 m wide with three rows of sic composite-capitals pillars. Built into its screen wall...is on the left a chapel for the rites of the 'house of the morning' and on the right a library room. To the side of the pillared hall beyond, on the east, opposite the treasury is a room for the preparation of ointments. Beyond this lies the offering table hall with the hall of the Divine Ennead beyond." [Arnold, Strudwick & Gardiner, op. cit., p.78]

A naos of Nectanebo II, a relic from an earlier building, is preserved in the inner sanctuary, which stands alone while the temple's barque sanctuary is surrounded by nine chapels. [Arnold, Strudwick & Gardiner, op. cit., p.78] The temple of Edfu fell into disuse as a religious monument following Theodosius I's edict banning non-Christian worship within the Roman Empire in 391 CE. As elsewhere, many of the temple's carved reliefs were razed by followers of the Christian faith which came to dominate Egypt. The blackened ceiling of the hypostyle hall, visible today, is believed to be the result of arson intended to destroy religious imagery that was now considered pagan.

Over the centuries, the temple became buried to a depth of 12 meters (39 ft) beneath drifting desert sand and layers of river silt deposited by the Nile. Local inhabitants built homes directly over the former temple grounds. Only the upper reaches of the temple pylons were visible by 1798, when the temple was identified by a French expedition. In 1860 Auguste Mariette, a French Egyptologist, began the work of freeing Edfu temple from the sands.

Today Edfu is nearly intact and it is the best preserved example of an ancient Egyptian temple in Egypt. [David., op. cit., p.99] The Temple of Edfu's archaeological significance and high state of preservation has made it a center for tourism in Egypt and a frequent stop for the many riverboats that cruise the Nile. In 2005, access to the temple was revamped with the addition of a visitor center and paved carpark. [cite web|url=http://guardians.net/spotlite/spotlite-hawass-2005.htm|title="SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW 2005 - Dr. Zahi Hawass"|accessdate=2007-04-25] A sophisticated lighting system was added in late 2006 to allow night visits. [cite web|url=http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/EgyptOnline/tourism/000003/0204000000000000002517.htm|title="Night visits to Temple of Horus allowed as of New Year"|accessdate=2007-04-26]

Religious significance

The temple of Edfu is the largest temple dedicated to Horus and Hathor of Dendera. [David, op. cit., p.99] It was the center of several festivals sacred to Horus. Each year, "Hathor travelled south from her temple at Denderah to visit Horus at Edfu, and this event marking their sacred marriage was the occasion of a great festival and pilgrimage." [David., op. cit., p.99]

Image gallery

ee also

* Edfu
* Dendera Temple complex

References

Cited references

General references

* Oakes, Lorna and Lucia Gahlin. "Ancient Egypt: An illustrated reference to the myths, religions, pyramids and temples of the land of the pharaohs". 2006. ISBN 0-7607-4943-4