Kom Ombo temple is a double unique temple that is located in the town of Kom Ombo 30 miles (48 km) north of the Aswan governorate in Upper Egypt. This temple was constructed during the era of the Greco-Roman but the area had been inhabited since the pre-dynastic period of Egyptian history. Many ancient burial sites were discovered in and around Kom Ombo. Here are all information you need to know about Kom Ombo temple:
Kom Ombo Temple
The History of Kom Ombo Temple
Kom Ombo temple was established during the Ptolemaic dynasty, the Greco-Roman period from 332B.C until 395 A.D. Everything in this marvelous temple is perfectly symmetrical along the main axis. Everything inside the temple from texts and reliefs refers to the Cultic liturgies and the temple itself has a specific theology. There are two themes presented in Kom Ombo temple, the Universalist theme, and the local theme. Unfortunately, much of this temple was destroyed by the Nile River. Jacques Morgan restored all temples in the southern part of the plateau in 1893.
The Ptolemies have established a lot of military bases near the Red Sea, which fostered commercial activities between these bases and the Nile towns, especially Kom Ombo. The most glorious days for Kom Ombo were when the Romans ruled Egypt. During this time, Kom Omo became the main administrative center and the capital of the province.
Discover the Crocodiles’ Story of Kom Ombo Temple
This amazing double temple was in fact dedicated to Sobek “The Crocodile God” and Horus, the falcon-headed god. Every part of the temple id duplicated to two sets of gods. The god Sobek is associated with god Seth, the enemy of Horus. According to Seth’s myth, the allies of Seth made their escape by changing themselves into crocodiles. The main sanctuary of Sobek was Kom Ombo temple where there were once huge numbers of crocodiles. The local inhabitants of this area went in fear because of the dangerous animals and they believed that a totem animal is going to attack them.
Why It is Called Kom Ombo Temple!!!
In the Arabic language, the word Kom means “Hill” and Ombo in the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics means “The Gold”. So in Arabic, it means, the hill of the gold. The word Ombo was actually the pharaonic word “Npty”, which means gold and in the Coptic period, the word changed to be “Enbo”, and finally, when the Arabic language became common, the word changed to be “Ombo”. The name of this astonishing city, which means “The Hill of the Gold” refers to the great importance of this city for the Ancient Egyptians from the economical aspect although the city wasn’t actually flourished except in the Ptolemaic era in Egypt.
The Target of Building Kom Ombo Temple
The main target behind the construction of such an amazing temple by the Ptolemies was for the worship of two gods; Sobek and Horus and that’s why this complex has two parallel temples, which include all the traditional components of the ancient Egyptian religious structure.
The Construction of Kom Ombo Temple
This temple was constructed using limestone in a design similar to that of the Greco-Roman period. There are three inner halls, and two sanctuaries; one dedicated to Sobek and the other to Horus and there is a courtyard and a hypostyle hall inside the temple. There are seven chambers in the inner halls; three are located in the eastern part of the temple and four in the western part. There are also antechambers and smaller rooms, which were used for different rituals and purposes.
What You Can Find Inside Kom Ombo Temple
The magnificent wall carvings of the temple depict the Ptolemaic kings while beating their enemies. There are some interesting attractions inside the temple such as:
THE CHAPEL OF HATHOR
It is suited in the northeastern section of the temple. It consists of a rectangle-shaped chapel that can be reached while climbing some steps and it is 5 meters long and 3 meters wide.
THE NILOMETER
There is a circular well in the northwestern section of the temple, which was used as a Nilometer to measure the water level of the Nile. It had great importance during the season of the Nile flooding.
THE CHAPEL OF SOBEK
It is located in the northeastern section of the temple and was dedicated to the god Sobek, who was worshiped by many Egyptians. It was constructed in the third century A.D.
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FAQ
What Should I Wear While Being in Egypt?
You should wear whatever you want. It is advised to wear something light from cotton or linen, comfortable and put on sunblock during your time in Egypt in the summer and wear comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the sandy terrain.
What to Pack for Your Egypt Tour?
You should bring a brimmed hat and sunglasses if you not used to the Egyptian sun &pack everything you could ever need and put in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
Are All Nile Cruises Available at Any Time?
Yes, it is available all years. as the Nile from Aswan to Luxor takes three to four days of sailing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the total cost of 600$ and the Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan take four to five days in Saturday, Monday and Thursday for the coast of 650$.
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Is it safe to travel to Egypt?
Yes, it is absolutely safe to travel to egypt, You will feel secure in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is very peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt and construct an entire environment dedicated for ensuring the lives of all tourists.
What are Egypt's Visa Requirements?
They are very simples, If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries(check the link), have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD entry fee in cash. As for the E-Visa for 30 days, you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could be one of the countries eligible for a free visa for 90 days.
What is the Weather is Like?
The temperature of Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c, Summer in Egypt is somehow hot and winter is cool and mild but sometimes it becomes cold at night. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 ¡ÆC in the wintertime to 23 ¡ÆC in the summertime and average high temperatures vary from 17 ¡ÆC in the wintertime to 32 ¡ÆC in the summertime while the temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
What is the Best Time of Visit Egypt?
It is known the best time to travel to Egypt is in the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a bit tropical, a warm atmosphere with a winter breeze. You will also be notified a week before your trip if the weather is unsafe or if any changes have been made.
Should I Give Tips in Egypt?
It is totally up to you, but if you choose to you can tip the servers at your restaurant 5-10% by handing it to them directly and 5 Egyptian Pounds as a general tip of anyone.
Can I Enter the Pyramids?
Yes, you can enter the pyramids for the small fee of 20$.
How to Enjoy Egypt During Ramadan?
Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslims that should be celebrated by non-Muslims and feel the essence of the Islamic culture. You can fast with the Muslim or just observe but you are always welcome to join the celebrations and festivals.
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