The temple of Horus
Edfu is the best preserved temple in Egypt. Buried in sand for centuries, it kept its roof, its pylon and its sanctuary, so you walk through it exactly as a priest would have, from bright courtyard to dark shrine.
Its walls tell the myth of Horus defeating Seth, carved in Ptolemaic times when Greek kings ruled Egypt in the style of the pharaohs.
The double temple of Kom Ombo
At Kom Ombo the temple sits right on a bend of the river and is split in two: one half for Sobek the crocodile god, the other for Haroeris, a form of Horus. Twin entrances, twin halls and twin sanctuaries run side by side.
A small museum beside the temple keeps mummified crocodiles found in the area, a reminder of how closely the Nile’s creatures were tied to its gods.
Practical notes
Most travelers see both temples from a Nile cruise or dahabiya between Luxor and Aswan.
- Edfu is busiest in the early morning when the cruise ships arrive; late afternoon is calmer.
- Kom Ombo is most beautiful at dusk, when the temple is lit above the river.
