EDFU

• Edfu was the Greek city of Apollinopolis Magna, and is a religious and commercial center.
• Located about 33 miles south of Esna and 65 miles north of Aswan, this is a gracious town which produces sugar and pottery.
• The main attraction there is the Temple of Horus, which is considered by nearly everyone to be the finest preserved cult temple in Egypt.
• This temple is dedicated to Horus, the falcon headed god, and it was built during the reigns of six Ptolemies.
• We have a great compact of information about its construction from reliefs on outer areas. It was begun in 237 BC by Ptolemy III and was ended in 57 BC.
• It is the second largest temple all over Egypt just after the temples of Karnak.
• It is assumed that the temple was built on the site of the great battle between Horus and Seth; or what is known to be the good verses the evil!!!!!!!!!!!
• The temple is comprised of an outer pylon, then an open fore court, then an outer hypostyle hall, then an inner hypostyle hall, then a portico, leading to the sanctuary and the Naos.
• Around the sanctuary and the Naos are twelve rooms for various purposes.
• One of the features of this temple is the presence of two huge stone statues for the God Horus facing the pylon.
• As you enter the great hall, you will begin to notice the use of light Even though the temple was build over hundreds of years, it is very harmonious, and ebbs and flow of lighting was certainly purposeful, portraying a feeling of mystery?????
• It is likely that a golden of Horus about 60 cm tall would have resided on the Naos. This statue would have been cared for by the priests in a human manner, being washed, dressed, anointed, fed and entertained !!!!!