What to See at the TEMPLE of HORUS at EDFU (5 Things You Can’t Miss)

The Temple of Horus at Edfu is located 109 km south of Luxor. It roughly takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach the city of Edfu.

Image Source: Map data ©2020 ORION-ME

The best way to visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu is with a private guide and a driver. Honestly, having a driver and a tour guide gives you total flexibility. You can decide how long you will stay and what you want to see.

Now, if you are staying in one of the hotels in Luxor, your hotel will be more than happy to arrange for you a driver and a guide. Needless to say, this is an expensive option, but it is all worth it.

Another option is to join a tour. You can ask your hotel for a bus tour that goes to Edfu. It is probably one of the least expensive options. But, it does not give you much flexibility.

Another option is to just book a taxi and visit Hours Temple of Edfu. You will always be able to hire a guide right at the entrance to the temple.

Now, what you need to know is that once you reach Edfu, the only way to get to visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu is by a horse-drawn carriage.

He explained to me that the roads leading to the temple are so narrow that they do not support any type of vehicle. So, the tourist transport operation to the Temple of Horus at Edfu solely relies on horse-drawn carriages. And, there are hundreds of horse-drawn carriages waiting for the tourists to take them to visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu.

This operation, certainly, gives employment to a large number of people.

My only recommendation is that you select a horse that looks well taken care of. And, make sure to tip the owner of that horse. I feel that we as tourists have the power to help.

• The city of Edfu is famous for its large sandstone Temple dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus.
• As my guide told me, the Temple of Horus at Edfu was built during the Ptolemaic Period. Specifically, it was started in 237 BC by Ptolemy III Euergetes and finished some 180 years later, around 57 BC by Ptolemy XII Auletes.
• The Temple of Horus at Edfu is considered to be the most complete and the best preserved ancient temple structure in Egypt.
• The ancient Egyptians believed that the temple was built on top of the location where the infamous battle of Horus and Seth took place. Source: Ancient Egypt Online
• Horus was usually depicted as a falcon or as a falcon-headed man. At Edfu, Horus was worshiped as the falcon Horus of Behdet.

The entrance to the Temple of Horus at Edfu is composed of an impressive pylon. It stands at a height of 130 feet.

What is a pylon?

Pylon is the Greek term for a monumental gateway of an Egyptian temple. It consists of two tapering towers, each surmounted by a cornice, joined by a less elevated section that encloses the entrance between them. The entrance was generally about half the height of the towers. Contemporary paintings of pylons show them with long poles flying banners. Source: Wikipedia

Now, take a look at the reliefs decorating the twin towers. As you can see, the carved-out scenes are mirror images of each other and represent pharaoh Ptolemy XII defeating his enemies.

Also, there are four large openings on each side that, possibly were used to anchor the flags.

Two granite statues of Horus as falcon guard the entrance gate.

Once you cross the entrance gate, make sure to turn around and take a look at the back side of the pylon. It has some impressive reliefs depicting the Happy Reunion feast, in which Horus of Edfu is united with Hathor of Dendera.

The marriage was celebrated twice a year, once at the Temple of Edfu, and then again, at the Dendera Temple.

The courtyard is surrounded on three sides by a covered colonnade of thirty-two columns.

As you approach the entrance to Great Hypostyle Hall, make sure to take a moment and check out the granite statues of Horus as a falcon. One of the statues has been destroyed, however, the other one is beautifully preserved.

Beyond the Courtyard is the majestic Great Hypostyle Hall (Outer Hall). It is made up of twelve columns arranged in two rows.

You will be amazed by the size of the Great Hypostyle Hall!

As you continue down the Great Hypostyle Hall, make sure to look up. You will be rewarded with a view of amazing floral capitals and the ceiling adorned with astronomical imagery.

Next, beyond the Outer Hypostyle Hall lies the second, smaller, yet even more impressive, the Inner Hypostyle Hall.

The Inner Hypostyle Hall has twelve columns which are lined up in three rows.

As you continue in, less light filters in, and the columns are beautifully illuminated with different color lights.

There are three small side rooms that are adjacent to the Inner Hypostyle Hall. You can enter each of the side rooms and make sure to check out the beautiful reliefs decorating the walls.

To the left, you will find the Room of the Nile. It was used to store the water necessary for purification.

Next to it is a very interesting room which was used to make the perfumes used in rituals. The walls of this room are covered with detailed instructions for obtaining different scents.

To the right of the Inner Hypostyle Hall used to be the Treasury. It contained objects that were used to adorn the statues of the gods.

Next, you will pass by the Hall of Offerings. It is a narrow room that was used for the burning of food and oil offerings for the gods.

Beyond the Hall of Offerings is the Vestibule or the Antechamber. This is the last room before the entrance into the most sacred portion of the temple, which is the Naos.

The Naos at the Temple of Horus at Edfu is the shrine built by Nectanebo II. It is the oldest part of the temple. It holds a black monolithic block engraved with the cartouche of Nectanebo II.

As my guide told me, the shrine contained the sacred barks of Horus and Hathor which were used in processions. It also contained the statue of Horus.

After you visit the Naos at the Temple of Horus at Edfu, take your time and wander around the temple. There are many chambers, chapels, and store rooms. It is really like a maze!

On the east side are chambers that served as storage for precious metals and stones. To the west are chambers that served as places for making sacred oils and ointments, with instructions on the walls.

The Temple of Horus at Edfu stopped being used as a place of worship following Theodosius I‘s edict banning non-Christian worship within the Roman Empire in 391 AD.

Over the centuries, the temple became buried beneath the desert sand.

Local inhabitants built homes directly over the former temple grounds.

In 1798 the temple was discovered by the French expedition. It was not until 1860 that Auguste Mariette began the excavation of the Temple of Hours at Edfu.

The Temple of Horus at Edfu is open from 7 am till 4 pm October through May and 7 am till 5 pm June through September.

The entrance ticket costs 180 EGP.