Temple of Horus, Egypt
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Temple of Horus, Egypt
Located between Luxor and Aswan on the west bank of the Nile river, Edfu is home of the second largest temple of Egypt i.e. Temple of Horus. Temple of Horus is not only the second largest temple after Temple of Karnak but also one of the best-preserved historical remains of the Ancient Egypt.
The Temple of Horus is a processional cult temple constructed in three intervals-first the temple by Ptolemy III then the outer hypostyle hall in the second interval and in last the perimeter walls and the pylons. The massive grand pylons of Temple of Horus are some 250 ft across and 100 ft high.
Temple of Horus at Edfu is dedicated to the falcon headed god -Horus. The main building of the temple includes a hypostyle hall. The entrance of the hall has images in honor of Horus and Hathor and there is also a 10 ft tall statue of Horus as the falcon god. Beyond the main hypostyle hall there is a second smaller same style hall that leads to a well, known by the name of "Chamber of the Nile" where priests obtained the holy water. Beyond this small hypostyle hall there is another hall used for offering followed by vestibule and sanctuary respectively.
The sanctuary of the temple is itself surrounded by the chapels and the rooms. The front chapel from the east is the Chapel of the New Year. The pylons of the main building of the Temple of Horus are of 118 ft high and include scenes of Pharaohs in battlefield. Within the pylons is the courtyard that leads into the main hypostyle hall. However on the either side of the courtyard there are gates that lead into an area beyond the temple but within the boundaries of the temple. This area consists of inscriptions that recorded all the land donations.
The Temple of Horus is unusual because of its location. A marvelous and magnificent black marble statue of the god at the entrance of the inner temple is a masterpiece of Egyptian architecture. It is the structural make over of this temple that makes it one of the famous Egypt tourist attractions site.
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