Temples of ancient Egypt

Temple of Kom Ombo:

The temple was built in the east bank of the Nile, during the 18^th dynasty. It was built for Sobek who is the crocodile god of the Nile, and Horus the falcon headed sky of kings. It was called the "House of the crocodile" and "Castle of the falcon". During the Greco-Roman period a greater temple was built. That temple was a double temple, because it consisted of two sides each one with its entrances and shrines. The right side was for Sobek, and the left one was for Horus.

Temple of Dier el Bahari:

The great queen Hatshepsut had built her mortuary temple beyond the Valley of the Kings. The construction of the temple was completed in about 20 years. It was built by Senenmut Hatshepsut's royal advisor, and he was also a well known architect. The temple was cut into the mountainside to show the connection between man and nature. It was donated to Amun-Ra and Hathor from whom Hatshepsut was supposedly descending.

Temple of Dendera:

The temple of Hathor was built at Dandera during the ptolemaic period. It was built for Hathor, Hrus, Bes who was the Egyptian household god that protected the mother and child during the childbirth, and Ihy who was Hathor's son.

Temple of Esna:

The temple of Khnum is located at Esna. It was built during the Greco-Roman period by the ptolemies. It was dedicated to the god Khnum. The temple lies below the level of houses in a pit, far below the level of the town. Its remains consist of the first hypostyle hall of columns. That wasn't the only temple. There was another temple built there during the reign of Thutmose III.

Temple of Edfu:

That Ptolemic temple is located between Aswan and Luxor. It was built over 180 year period. It was dedicated to Horus. There is a statue of Horus as a falcon just before the entrance to the first two hypostyle halls. It was excavated by Auguste Mariette. When it was excavated it was nearly in a perfect condition, except a small amount of stones that had been removed from the exposed part.

Temple of Madinet Habu:

In ancient Egypt Madinat Habu was known as Djanet. It was believed to be the place where Amun first appeared. Hatshepsut and Thutmosis III built a temple in that site which was dedicated to Amun. Later Ramses III built a greater temple there. A canal with a harbor outside the entrance connected the temple to the Nile, but the desert swallowed it up long time ago. During 25^th and 26^th dynasties wives of Amun were worshipped in Chapels named "the divine Idolatries of Amun". In later times it was used as a place protection during the war between high priests of Amun at Thebes and Viceroy of Kush. During the Greek and Roman period the site was expanded.

Ramesseum:

That temple was the mortuary temple of Ramses II. It was built on the west bank of Thebes which is now Luxor. It was built close to the Nile, but the river swallowed most of it. It stands between the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple. It was known as the "Temple of a Million Years", "Memnonia" and it was also called "Mansion of Ramses II united with Thebes in the domain of Amun".

Temples of Abu Simbel:

The Abu Simbel temples were built south of Aswan, in northern Nubia, in the west bank of the Nile. They were both built by Ramses II. Ramses temple was built for the Gods Ptah, Amun, Ra-Harakhti. On the entrance of the Ramses temple, there is four clossal statues of Ramses seated in pairs. The temple faces the east where the sun rises. The rays of the sun shine into the inner most sanctuary to illuminate the statues Ptah, Amun-Ra, Ra-Harakhti and Ramses II, that happens twice a year. A smaller temple was built near the Ramses temple. Ramses himself built that temple for his favorite wife, Queen Nefertari. The temple of Nefertari was dedicated to the goddess Hathor.

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<Temple of Philae:

< That temple was begun by Ptolemy II and it was completed by the Roman emperors. This temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis who is Osiris's wife and Horus's mother. Philae in Greek or Pilak in ancient Egypt meant "the end". That temple was nearly lost under water when high dam was built, but luckily the temple was rescued.

Temple of Abydos:

Abydos is an ancient city along the Nile and its ancient name is Abdjw. Abydos was known as the city of the dead, it was where Osiris believed to be born at. There was a temple built there by Seti I dedicated to Osiris and also it was built for Seti as his mortuary temple. The temple's walls told the story of Osiris. There was another temple built there. It was a small temple built by Ramses II northwest the temple of Osiris.

Temple of Akhet-Aton:

Akhenaton was the king who changed his name from Amunhotep IV to Akenaton built a temple in the honor of god Aton. It was built in Aket-Aton, which is now Tell El-Amarna. The temple was very much like the temple of Ra at Heliopolis, because Ra was linked with Aton.

Temples of Thebes:

The Theben temples are the largest constructed temples. The temple of Karnak was known as Ipet-isut which meant "most favoured of places". It is a city of temples and shrines. It was devoted to Theben gods Amun, Mut and their son Khonsu. The Luxor temple is at least one and a half kilometers by almost one kilometer in size. The Luxor temple is connected to the Karnak temple.

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