Satet/Khnoum Temple on Elephantine Island

Satet/Khnoum Temple on Elephantine Island

by Günther Eichhorn

This temple complex is located on Elephantine Island next to Aswan. It was dedicated to Satet and her husband Khnoum. It was built by Montuhotep II (2055 - 2004 BCE). It is not one of the big impressive temples, and therefore not on any of the itineraries. I found and explored it myself. I took the local ferry boat to the island and wandered around the temple for a couple of hours. It has a few nice reliefs. It is in the process of being excavated in some areas. It was a refreshing change from the big ostentatious temples that I had seen so far.

View of the temple complex with the Berber village in the background. (304k) View of some of the walls in the temple complex. (357k) View of some of the houses in the complex. (362k) View over the complex with the Satet Temple itself. (519k) Some of the houses. (512k)
View of the southern part of the complex. (375k) View of the eastern part of the complex towards Aswan. (412k) The Satet Temple itself. (213k) Parts of the ruins on the Nile, opposite of Aswan. (565k) This building had a direct connection to the Nile and was used to measure the height of the flood of the Nile. (431k)
A statue of a Pharaoh in the temple. (292k) Carved hieroglyphics.. (360k) A relief of the Goddess Nekhbet. (319k) Nicely carved reliefs. (347k) Closeup of the frontal face on one of the stones. Faces are usually shown in side view, this was one of the few examples where a face is shown in front view. (329k)
Relief of the Goddess Satet (left) and the God Khnoum (right), her husband. (435k) Close-up of the Goddess Satet. (467k) Close-up of the God Khnoum (388k)

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View of the temple complex with the Berber village in the background. (304k)	View of some of the walls in the temple complex. (357k)	View of some of the houses in the complex. (362k)	View over the complex with the Satet Temple itself. (519k)	Some of the houses. (512k)
View of the southern part of the complex. (375k)	View of the eastern part of the complex towards Aswan. (412k)	The Satet Temple itself. (213k)	Parts of the ruins on the Nile, opposite of Aswan. (565k)	This building had a direct connection to the Nile and was used to measure the height of the flood of the Nile. (431k)
A statue of a Pharaoh in the temple. (292k)	Carved hieroglyphics.. (360k)	A relief of the Goddess Nekhbet. (319k)	Nicely carved reliefs. (347k)	Closeup of the frontal face on one of the stones. Faces are usually shown in side view, this was one of the few examples where a face is shown in front view. (329k)
Relief of the Goddess Satet (left) and the God Khnoum (right), her husband. (435k)	Close-up of the Goddess Satet. (467k)	Close-up of the God Khnoum (388k)