Egypt 2024

Kom Ombo, a riverside
town surrounded by sugar cane fields that is home to Egypt’s only
double temple. Dramatically situated along a bend on the Nile,
the beautiful Graeco-Roman Kom Ombo Temple features one side
dedicated to the local crocodile god, Sobek, and the other side
dedicated the falcon god, Haroeris. A unique feature of Kom Ombo
is a series of engravings thought to be among the world’s first
representations of medical and surgical instruments.

The Open-Air Courtyard
Behind the entrance pylon, the typical major ancient Egyptian temple generally had an open-air courtyard fronting its inner halls, its central open-air area surrounded by columns. The base of a square altar lies in the center of the forecourt. The forecourt acted as a transitional area between the outside world and the secluded inner walls of the temple. Only the king and priests were allowed inside temples, but common people likely had access to the forecourt, at least on festival occasions.

The forecourt was built during Egypt’s Roman Period (30 BC-395 AD). The north wall, on the left, has unfortunately not survived, but the southern is partially preserved, bearing a long text in front of figures bearing offerings. They are led by Augustus (30 BC-14 AD), the first Roman emperor, depicted here as a traditional ancient Egyptian king, and they are walking toward the temple to present their offerings to the gods inside. The columns around the perimeter are dedicated with the scenes of the Roman Emperor Tiberius (14-37 AD) making offerings to various deities.

Outer Hypostyle Hall
An ancient Egyptian temple’s hypostyle hall is where its inner, more sacred area begins. Although most of the roof and side walls of this hall are now missing, this was once intended to be a dimly lit room, whose only light came in from narrow gaps near the ceiling.
The outer hypostyle half was built during the reign of Ptolemy XII (80-51 BC). It is accessed through two entrances: the southern and the northernLue lisää