Edfu Temple

The Temple of Horus at Edfu is the most complete temple surviving from ancient Egypt. Built in the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BC, it is dedicated to the falcon god Horus. For centuries it lay buried under sand and village houses, which protected its walls and roof. The French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette cleared it from 1860.

What to see

• The great pylon, one of the tallest in Egypt, with reliefs of Ptolemy XII defeating his enemies and two granite falcon statues of Horus at the entrance.
• The court of offerings, lined with columns with floral capitals.
• Two hypostyle halls leading to the dark sanctuary, which still holds a granite shrine.
• Wall carvings showing the battle between Horus and Seth and the yearly festival in which Hathor travelled from Dendera to meet Horus.
• The mammisi (birth house) in front of the temple.

Visiting tips

Allow about 90 minutes. Cruise passengers arrive in large groups in the morning, so late afternoon can be quieter. Climb nothing that is roped off; much of the roof is closed to visitors.

Getting there

Edfu is on the west bank of the Nile, roughly halfway between Luxor and Aswan. Nile cruises stop here, and horse-drawn carriages and taxis run from the landing stages to the temple. It is also a regular stop on road trips between Luxor and Aswan.

Last checked October 2026. Sources: egymonuments.gov.eg, mota.gov.eg, egyptology.yale.edu, egyptindependent.com.