Kom Ombo Temple - Impressive Site
February 27: Kom Ombo Temple
Built by the ancestors of Cleopatra in the 1st and 2nd century B.C., this unusually well-preserved temple sits on the shore of the Nile River a little north of Aswan. Later, the Romans added to the temple.
This is a double temple, being almost equally divided to honour two Egyptian gods, Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god. The carvings on the walls are remarkably done, and despite some errors in the hieroglyphics, many of the carvings have survived the ages very well. This is a tribute to the skills of the artists and perhaps partially due to the quality of the local rock. It must have been an awesome sight when it was a working temple and all the images were painted. Little of the pigment remains today.
Horus, the falcon god, in the image below.
Our ship was able to dock right in front of the temple. Without huge crowds, we could easily explore the temple courtyards and passageways. Sobek, the crocodile god, is clearly visible.
Site security guard
Behind the temple is a small museum dedicated to mummified crocodiles.
Built by the ancestors of Cleopatra in the 1st and 2nd century B.C., this unusually well-preserved temple sits on the shore of the Nile River a little north of Aswan. Later, the Romans added to the temple.
This is a double temple, being almost equally divided to honour two Egyptian gods, Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god. The carvings on the walls are remarkably done, and despite some errors in the hieroglyphics, many of the carvings have survived the ages very well. This is a tribute to the skills of the artists and perhaps partially due to the quality of the local rock. It must have been an awesome sight when it was a working temple and all the images were painted. Little of the pigment remains today.
Horus, the falcon god, in the image below.
Our ship was able to dock right in front of the temple. Without huge crowds, we could easily explore the temple courtyards and passageways. Sobek, the crocodile god, is clearly visible.
Site security guard
Behind the temple is a small museum dedicated to mummified crocodiles.
Returning to the ship late morning, we set sail for Aswan where we will have two more excursions today.
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