The Graeco-Roman Temple at Kom Ombo

Cartouche

Cavetto with sun disc

Central aisle

Kom Ombo Temple

Cultic Instruments

King and Gods

Crocodile mummy

(Tour arranged and organised by Cecelia and Lindy at Egypt & Beyond.)

The setting of this temple at the river’s edge is quite spectacular, especially when seen from the deck of a Nile boat. Today the temple’s forecourt is quite small compared to its original size. Over the centuries the annual inundation gradually eroded the river banks taking part of the forecourt with it; the erosion was only stopped when the river was ‘tamed’ by the construction of the High Dam in the 1960s.

This temple is one of four major Graeco-Roman temples routinely visited by tourists - the others are Philae, Edfu and Dendera - and all have similar features; but this temple at Kom Ombo has one feature not seen at the others. It is dedicated equally to two gods - Sobek, the crocodile-headed god and to Haroeris, or Horus, the Elder together with their associated deities.

As with the Isis temple at Philae, this temple was probably begun under the reign of Ptolemy VI but most of the decoration was only completed under Ptolemy XII Auletes, with the forecourt only finished during the Roman period. Being dedicated to two gods, much care was taken in the planning of the temple so as to be sure that each god had an equal amount of space. The whole temple reflects this duality; the east side belongs to Sobek and the west to Horus the Elder.

This care has resulted in the temple having a pleasing symmetry as well as being architecturally elegant.

The façade of the first hypostyle hall has beautifully constructed screen walls. The columns connecting these are topped with ornate capitals, most still in good condition, the whole topped with wonderfully carved architraves topped by two decorated cavettos. As can be expected, the decoration on east side of the central aisle is dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris to the west. The reliefs have been skillfully carved and are of a very high quality.

The next hypostyle hall, although slightly smaller, continues this theme; and again, the central aisle is wide enough to permit two separate processional ways both of which leads through three vestibules into the innermost sanctuaries of these gods. As at Philae, they hold only the shrines; alas the barques of the gods are no longer there. The sanctuaries have a hidden secret - concealed rooms. Here the priests would sit to hear the petitions to the gods or to make oracular statements on behalf of the gods; there are actually a number of passages and crypts under the temple floor. As at Edfu and Dendera, a number of cult chapels surround these sanctuaries but all empty now.

On the walls of the outer ambulatory are depicted some very intriguing scenes - the most interesting depicts the emperor Trajan presenting the gods with a set of ritual and/or surgical instruments. Why the emperor would be presenting surgical instruments to the gods is a mystery and its likely that most if not all the instruments depicted are likely to be cult related. Some may be medically related because it’s known that pilgrims did come here for healing. Another more recent suggestion is that the implements are concerned with the goldsmith’s art.

Outside the temple, on the west side, you can see a very well preserved well/Nilometer - the level of the Nile flood was measured here by descending the steps, but an opening higher up allowed fresh water to be drawn from the well. On the east side of the temple are the remains of a small Hat-hor temple which today houses a number of mummified Nile crocodiles. These were found in mud coffins, some of which can be seen in a small roped-off area on the west side of the temple.

To find out how you can visit these fascinating sites, please contact us on +27 11 678 4777 or +27 11 478 2884 or email us on: info@egyptandbeyond.co.za.

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