Temple of Horus

Temple of Horus

Introduction Edfu is located 123 km north of Aswan and about 140 km south of Luxor. It is a must-visit stop on the classic golden route between Luxor and Aswan. The most famous attraction here is the Temple of Horus. Due to the low elevation of the area, the temple was submerged and buried deep in silt during the annual flooding of the Nile, which has helped preserve it in the best condition of all temples in Egypt today. The Temple of Horus was built in 237 BC and took over 200 years to complete. It is dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed sky god. Horus is one of the most important deities in ancient Egyptian religion, the son of the sun god Osiris and the protective goddess Isis. He is often depicted as a falcon wearing the crown of Egypt, and the pharaohs of ancient Egypt regarded themselves as incarnations of Horus. The temple is 137 meters long, with a front width of 79 meters. Its gate stands 36 meters high. Though not very large, it features a main temple building with an eagle-headed statue of Horus outside. The interior is similar to other Egyptian temples, with a grand hypostyle hall at the entrance and inner stone chambers, including a rare mummified crocodile. Special Note: Photography is not allowed inside the temple. Transportation Most group tours include the Temple of Horus in their Luxor–Aswan itineraries, but it’s not very convenient to reach on your own. Travelers who rent a car or take a felucca (sailboat) can consider it as one of their destinations. Tickets / Opening Hours 20 Egyptian pounds; students pay half price.

Aswan, Egypt