NILE Magazine

Because You Love Ancient Egypt
  • Home
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Subscribe
  • Past Issues
  • Free Samples
  • About NILE
  • Home
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Subscribe
  • Past Issues
  • Free Samples
  • About NILE

2016 April

Egypt's most famous battle site

Jeff Burzacott April 11, 2016

This is the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the second largest temple in Egypt (after Karnak), and the most well preserved.

Egyptian temples were set up at holy sites associated with the creation of the world and at places that feature significantly in the myths and legends involving their gods.

Edfu Temple was built on the site of the mythical battle between Seth and Horus, who was avenging his father's death at the hands of Seth. Despite losing an eye in the encounter, Horus emerged victorious and claimed the throne of Egypt.

This was a triumph of good over evil, of 'maat' (universal balance, order and justice) over the forces of chaos, and joyous festivals were held here throughout the year to honour Horus and celebrate his great victory.

Edfu was built quite late in Egypt's history, starting in 237 B.C. It was in fact the first new temple commissioned by the Ptolemies—the Greek rulers who succeeded Alexander the Great.

The falcon god Horus is sometimes portrayed in reliefs as a winged sun disk, representing "Horus of Behdet". Behdet was the ancient Egyptian name for the location of his great temple in Upper Egypt.

The Greeks equated Horus with their god Apollo, and so Edfu was called Apollinopolis, with Magna added to differentiate it from other places also called Apollinopolis.

Pictured are the colonnades and back of the great entrance pylon that form the paved courtyard of the temple. Photo: Shane and Robbie, who visited Egypt in 2013 as part of an epic 500-day journey around the world.

  • 2016 April
  • Older
  • Newer
Satisfy your passion for ancient Egypt.NILE Magazine June-July 2017 is out now. Inside:- The Tomb-1000 years of robbery and reuse.- Egypt's first ever funerary garden discovered.- World Museum's new ancient Egypt gallery.- Art and Archaeol…

Satisfy your passion for ancient Egypt.
NILE Magazine June-July 2017 is out now. Inside:
- The Tomb-1000 years of robbery and reuse.
- Egypt's first ever funerary garden discovered.
- World Museum's new ancient Egypt gallery.
- Art and Archaeology meet: the two worlds of Susan Osgood.
- The Royal Tombs of Ancient Egypt.
- Aswan's powerful governors.
- On This Day in Egyptology history.
- Plus much more.

Click on the cover to subscribe.

Featured
Mar 25, 2017
Dark, isn't it? Happy Earth Hour!
Mar 25, 2017

I love that we know the Great Sphinx so well, we can pick it from just the silhouette.

Read More →
Mar 25, 2017
Mar 24, 2017
Intact Middle Kingdom tomb discovered in Aswan
Mar 24, 2017

Shemai was the younger brother of Sarenput II, the powerful governor of Elephantine.

Read More →
Mar 24, 2017
Mar 4, 2017
The Dream Stela restored
Mar 4, 2017

The Ministry of Antiquities is working to preserve Thutmose IV's fanciful story.

Read More →
Mar 4, 2017
  • Contact NILE
  • Index
  • Write for Nile
  • Join The Team
  • FAQs
  • Societies & Clubs

All rights reserved © Nile Magazine 2024

NILE Magazine

Because You Love Ancient Egypt