Detailed interactive map Idfu Temple of Horus
It was believed that the temple was built on the site of the great battle between Horus and Seth. This is not only the best preserved ancient temple in Egypt, but the second largest after Karnak. It is said that the original structure housing a statue of Horus was a grass hut built in prehistoric times. Built from sandstone blocks, the huge Ptolemaic temple was oriented east to west, facing towards the river. The later structure faces north to south and leaves the ruined remains of the older temple pylon to be seen on the east side of the first court. The main building, which includes a great Hypostyle Hall, was uncovered by Auguste Mariette, a French egyptologist, in the 1860s. There are numerous reliefs, including a depiction of the Feast of the Beautiful Meeting, the annual reunion between Horus and his wife Hathor. In the darkened inner sanctum the polished stone shrine still survives, decorated with carvings of the reeds. The Temple of Edfu's archaeological significance and state of preservation has made it a center for tourism in Egypt and a frequent stop for the many riverboats that cruise the Nile.
