The Temple of Edfu is intact and a best example of ancient Egyptian temple. The Temple of Edfu’s archaeological importance and high state of preservation has made it a Centre for tourism in Egypt and a persistent stop for the many river boats that cruise the Nile. In 2005, access to the temple was revnovate with the addition of a visitor center and paved car park. A knowledgeable lighting system was added in late 2006 to allow night visits.
It is one of the best preserved temples in Egypt and one of the several temples built during the Ptolemaic period, including Dendera, Esna, KomOmbo and Philae. Its size reflects the relative prosperity of the time. The present temple, which was begun “on 23 August 237 BC, initially consisted of a pillared hall, two transverse halls, and a ship sanctuary surrounded by chapels.” The building was started during the reign of Ptolemy III and completed in 57 BC under Ptolemy XII. It was built on the site of an earlier, smaller temple also devoted to Horus.
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. The temple is dedicated to the falcon god Horus, was built in the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BC. The carvings on its walls provide significant information on language, myth and religion during the Greco-Roman period in ancient Egypt. In particular, the Temple’s inscribed building texts “provide details of its construction, and also preserve information about the mythical interpretation of this and all other temples as the Island of Creation.” There are also “important scenes and inscriptions of the Sacred Drama which related the age-old dispute between Horus and Seth.”
