Edfu Temple

Location: it is situated 132 km to the south of Luxor.The Naos consists of: The Hypostyle Hall: It contains twelve pillars arranged in three rows and cach row consists of four columns, with composite floral capitals.The Open Court: It is surrounded on three sides by composite floral capital columns, which are decorated with scenes representing the king while making offerings to various deities of Egypt.Description: the Pylon: it dates back to the Ptolemaic Period, and it is the biggest and greatest pylon of all Egyptian temples; its height reaches about 36 m while its width is about 64 m., it consists of two towers decorated by scenes of the king welcoming guests of the temple, other sce of the deities as shows Ptolemy XII (Neos Dionysos) smiting a group of enemies and presenting them to Horus Behdty and Hathor.1- The Pronaos: The facade of the pronaos consists of six columns connected by screen walls, King Ptolemy is represented standing between god Horus and god Djhwty, they pouring water over him sign of purification, another scene depicts goddess Nekhbet and goddess Wadjet while supervising the coronation of the king.Name of the city: in ancient times, it was called

'Behdet', but in the Gracco-Roman Period, it was called Apollinopolis Magna' because the Greeks identified their god Apollo with the local god of Edfu, Horus of Behdet, who is represented as a winged solar-disk.The Hall of Deities: It is situated in front of the sanctuary and its walls are decorated with scenes of the king making offerings to different deities The Sanctuary there is a pedestal on which it was placed the sacred bark of god Horus Behdety, there is also a naos which contained a statue of god Horus Behdety.Temple cult: The triad of Edu consists of: Hor Behdety, his wife Hathor and their son Horus sm3-48wy.In front of the pylon, there two granite statues of falcons wearing the double crown and representing Horus Behdty.In front of the pylon, there are remains of the House of Horus'; a place falcon breeding; each year a hawak is chosen by the high priest during the 'Festival of the Coronation of the Hawk.The Mammisi: it was constructed by King Ptolemy VIII (Eargetes II) and Peolemy (Soter II).The Presentation Hall: the walls are decorated by kings, queen and priests carrying different standards representing nomes of Egypt.The walls are decorated with scenes dating back to the reign of King Ptolemy IV (Philopator).On the western side of this room, there is a staircase leading to the descending passage used during the processions of the New Year Festivals.Importance: The most important monument in Edfu is its temple which is now situated at the center of the city.There are also remains of a smaller pylon which dates back to the Ramesside Period and it is situated at a right angle on the eastern tower of the Ptolemaic pylon.The foundation of the temple is depicted on the walls of the pronaos shows the king dancing before Horus of Behdet during the foundation of the temple.Dating: it dates back to the prehistoric period, while other monuments dating back to the Ramesside period as well as the 25th and 26th Dynasties were found there.On the back wall of the pylon, there are scenes representing the Sacred Marriage Festival.The Hall of Offerings its walls are decorated by scenes of offerings of meat, fish and fowls.It was the capital of the second nome of Upper Egypt.It is also believed that there were two obelisks in front of the temple.