Ancient Egypt
Dendera
Dendera is an important shrine to the goddess Hathor. The temple has 24 pillars with Hathor capitals.
Compare the way the Temple of Hathor looks today with the drawing from above. Notice that most of the paint is gone. Many of the details are worn smooth. Can you imagine how impressive the temple must have been to the Ancient Egyptians?
The Temple of Dendera was built in the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Other temples from this same period include:
Ancient EgyptEdfu
This is the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Horus was the falcon-headed god. The temple was started in 237 BC by Ptolemy III. It was finished in 57 BC during the reign of Ptolemy XII.
The Temple of Horus is the second largest after Karnak. It was thought to be built on the spot where Horus and Set fought a great battle.
On the third month each summer, the priests in Dendera would take the statue of Hathor and place it on a ceremonial barge. The barge would arrive at the Edfu Temple. It was believed that Horus and Hathor visited each other during this time.
Ancient EgyptEsna
The Temple of Khnum at Esna was built to honor Khnum, the ram god. The temple was built by Ptolemy VI. An addition was later added by the Roman emperor Claudius in the first century.
Ancient EgyptKom Ombo
Ancient EgyptAswan: Temple of Isis at Philae
The Temple of Isis on the island of Philae was built mostly by Ptolemy II. It was completed by the Roman emperors.
During the 1960s the Aswan High Dam was constructed. The rising water threatened the temple, so in the 1970s it was labeled and removed piece by piece. It was later reassembled on the higher ground on Agilkia Island.
This is the entrance to the Temple of Isis.
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