Edfu
town is situated on the west bank of the Nile, 60 miles south of Luxor. The
name is derived from the ancient Egyptian name Djeba, which meant "retribution
town" as it was here that the enemies of the god were brought to justice.
This was the traditional location of the mythical battles between the gods Horus
and Set. Edfu is the most preserved temple in Egypt and dedicated to the god
Horus.
Edfu was the capital of the second nome of Upper Egypt. The temple was the first new temple commissioned by the Ptolemies and was begun on August 23, 237 BC by Ptolemy III. The temple was formally dedicated in 142 BC by Ptolemy VIII and his wife Cleopatra II.
The twin towers of the 130 ft high entrance pylon are mirror images of each other both in construction and in their carvings and two statues of Horus as a falcon flank the entrance gate. The scenes depict the meeting between Horus and Hathor at Dendera.
Close to the east tower of the temple pylon, remains have been found of another pylon dating from the ramesside period but most of the remains have been destroyed or lie under the present town.
At present (2007) major reconstruction work is being undertaken to the approach
to the temple.
South of the temple are the ruins of the birth house where the birth of the god Harsomntus was celebrated.
The outer hypostyle hall contains 12 columns which are the highest of the temple. In the eastern part was the library and on the walls is a list of every book that was in it.
The
large court is surrounded on three sides by a covered colonnade of 32 columns,
with the 130 ft pylon towers forming the south wall.
The most sacred part of the temple is the sanctuary containing the granite shrine, or naos, which housed the main statue. It now contains the sacred barque. The sanctuary was surrounded by 17 chambers and store rooms, an 8 pillared hall, 2 smaller halls and 2 staircases leading to the roof.
The stairwells leading to the temple roof are intrically carved and are still accessible.
In front of the sanctuary was an antechamber and a small sacrificial court leading to the wabt or pure place, where statues were anointed and dressed.
The next main chamber is the wall of the offering tables followed by the inner hypostyle hall which is supported by 12 columns with floral capitals and was lit by small windows at roof level.
Eight chapels open off the corridor and were dedicated to the major deities.
Some chambers were used to make sacred oils and ointments and some were used as stores for precious metals and stones.
From the pylon to the north enclosure wall is just over 150 feet, covering an area of about 8400ft. Many of the outer buildings are still buried under the town but these are slowly being discovered and rebuilt.
On the outer facing of the outer wall is an inscription giving an account of the whole building and its construction. The inscriptions explain the functions of each of the different halls and antichambers.
Reliefs on the pylon tell the story of the ritual journey and reunion of Hathor of Dendera and Horus and the conflict between Horus and Set. As on other temples, there are carvings depicting the smiting of enemies, ritual offering scenes and the traditional religious practices of Egypt.
