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| Location |
Upper Egypt - between Esna and Aswan West bank of Nile |
|---|---|---|
| Nome | Throne of Horus - the
2nd Nome of Upper Egypt
| |
| Type of Settlement | Religious Center | |
| Necropolis | The remains of seven small provincial step pyramids built from red sandstone, are situated 5km north of Edfu near the village of Naga el-Goneima | |
| Local deity | The falcon god Horus | |
| Ancient name | Egyptian - Behdet Greek - Apollinopolis Magna | |
| Historical Development | - It was believed that Edfu was the site of the great battle between Horus and Seth.
- Pre-Dynastic Period - Capital of a kingdom that flourished c. 3400 BC The remains of this ancient settlement are situated about 50m to the west of the temple, this settlement has complete archaeological sequences of occupation dating from the Pre-Dynastic Period, Old Kingdom until the Ptolemaic Period. . Excavations have yielded a field of mastabas dating from the Old Kingdom and a Roman necropolis - During the Ptolemaic Period, Edfu was an important religious and trade center | |
| The Temple |
The large sandstone temple is one of the finest
examples of Ptolemaic Period architecture, and the best preserved major temple in Egypt.
It is dedicated to the falcon god Horus
Construction Began in 237 BC by Ptolemy 3 Euergetes and was completed over a 180-year period in 57 BC The structure was excavated last century by Auguste Mariette. Its courtyard and surrounds were buried beneath sand and also houses built by local villagers. Architecture
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Video: Edfu Temple, Egypt 1-09.mov
http://www.tourvideos.com Edfu is the best-preserved temple from ancient Egypt. The temple we see today is the final version built by the Greek Ptolemy phara......

Throne of Horus - the
2nd Nome of Upper Egypt