Temple of Kom Ombo

by Günther Eichhorn


The Temple in Kom Ombo is another very beautiful temple complex. Like The Horus Temple of Edfu, it is from Ptolemaic times. It was started by Ptolemy VI, most of it was completed by Ptolemy XII. It is located close to the Nile, so part of it was eroded with time, but most has survived. It is very similar in layout to the Horus Temple of Edfu. However, it was built as a dual temple for the God Sobek and the God Haroeris, a form of Horus. It has most everything twice, the entrance, the Great Court, etc.

In the back of the temple is a narrow path, the Passage of Victory with some huge, impressive reliefs. These were some of the more impressive carvings. One part shows a series of pictures of instruments. Some say they are medical instruments, others dispute that and say they are instruments used in the daily temple routines. The fact that the Eye of Horus is ubiquitous there as well, would give weight to the hypothesis that they are medical instruments.

Egypt 1590 The dual entrance gate seen from the river. (253k) Egypt 1594 The dual entrance gate. (281k) Egypt 1690 Closer view of the dual entrance gate with the Horus Sun Disk over each entrance. (395k) Egypt 1644 Carved columns in the Outer Hypostyle Hall. (431k) Egypt 1648 Carved and painted column in the Outer Hypostyle Hall, showing the God Sobek to which half the temple was dedicated. (294k)
Egypt 1649 Top of one of the columns, with carved and painted figures of the God Horus (left, in Falcon form) and the Goddess Nekhbet (right, in vulture form). (365k) Egypt 1650 Beautifully carved and painted column, showing the Goddess Isis (far left), Nut (center), and her husband Geb (far right). (316k) Egypt 1606 Example of numbers and dates in hieroglyphics. (643k) Egypt 1611 Wall with painted reliefs, showing the Pharaoh making offerings to various Gods and Goddesses. On the left is the Pharaoh, with the Gods broken off. On the right are from top to bottom the Goddess Hathor, the God Khonsu, and the God Horus. (557k) Egypt 1616 Wall with hieroglyphics. On the top left is the God Horus (partial on far left), and the God Shu (with the single feather on his head). Below him is the God Ptah. (518k)
Egypt 1619 Several Gods receiving offerings. On the left from top are the Goddess Hathor, the God Atum, and the God Sobek. In the middle are, from top, Horus and his wife Hathor, Haroeris, and Hathor, and the God Hapi (bottom right). On the right are, from top, Sobek, Khonsu, and Sobek again. (591k) Egypt 1613 Relief of Haroeris (right, holding the Was scepter), Wadjet (center, with the Deshret, the Red Crown of Lower Egypt), Nekhbet (left, with the Hedjet, the White Crown of Upper Egypt), crowning Pharaoh Ptolemy XII in the Temple of Kom Ombo. (465k) Egypt 1637 Lavishly carved wall, with Haroeris at the bottom left and right, and the winged goddess between them. Above that is the winged Sun Disk of Horus. Above that is (613k) Egypt 1643 Another wall with lots of hieroglyphics and Gods. On the upper row are from left Khonsu, Sobek, the Pharaoh, and Nephtys. On the lower tier are from left Haroeris, the Pharaoh, Sobek, and the Pharaoh flanked by two unidentified gods (524k) Egypt 1659 Relief of Geb, wearing the Pshent (center, holding the Was scepter), with his sister/wife Nut (left), and a Pharaoh (right). (436k)
Egypt 1657 The Pharaoh offering to Haroeris and Hathor. (440k) Egypt 1632 A winged Goddess between the Apis Bull on the right and a winged lion on the left. My first thought that it is Isis, she is often represented like this. But she has a single feather on her head, which is usually a sign of the Goddess Ma'at. (600k) Egypt 1628 Beautiful huge relief. I don't know who is represented here. (654k) Egypt 1629 Another exceptionally carved figure on the same wall. Again I don't know who it represents (I think it is a Pharaoh, probably one of the Ptolemy Pharaohs. (656k) Egypt 1635 A Pharaoh making offerings. (627k)
Egypt 1624 Four rows of instruments. Some say, they represent medical instruments. (342k) Egypt 1647 The entrance to inner sanctum, with lavish carvings. Over the door is the Horus Sun Disk for protection. (375k) Egypt 1603 Painted ceiling relief with Nekhbet, the vulture Goddess, and Wadjet, the Winged Cobra (379k) Egypt 1602 The Ankh, symbol for eternal life, holding Was Scepters, the symbol for power. (316k) Egypt 1626 The Ankh and the Was Scepter above the symbols for the Lotus Flower. (292k)
Egypt 1622 The Eye of Horus. (404k) Egypt 1610 Stone blocks were held together by wedging wood pieces into these cutouts. (531k) Egypt 1645 A lion breathing flames. (446k) Egypt 1678 Close-up of an exquisitely carved Goddess (I don't know which one it is). (408k)


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