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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