Temple of Kom Ombo

by Günther Eichhorn

The Temple in Kom Ombo is another very beautiful temple complex. Like The Horus Temple of Edfu, it is from Ptolemaic times. It was started by Ptolemaios VI, most of it was completed by Ptolemaios XII. It is located close to the Nile, so part of it was eroded with time, but most has survived. It is very similar in layout to the Horus Temple of Edfu. However, it was built as a dual temple for the God Sobek and the God Haroeris, a form of Horus. It has most everything twice, the entrance, the Great Court, etc.

In the back of the temple is a narrow path, the Passage of Victory with some huge, impressive reliefs. These were some of the more impressive carvings. One part shows a series of pictures of instruments. Some say they are medical instruments, others dispute that and say they are instruments used in the daily temple routines. The fact that the Eye of Horus is ubiquitous there as well, would give weight to the hypothesis that they are medical instruments.

The dual entrance gate seen from the river. (382k) The dual entrance gate. (399k) Closer view of the dual entrance gate with the Horus Sun Disk over each entrance. (557k) Carved columns in the Outer Hypostyle Hall. (591k) Carved and painted column in the Outer Hypostyle Hall, showing the God Sobek to which half the temple was dedicated. (455k)
Top of one of the columns, with carved and painted figures of the God Horus (left, in Falcon form) and the Goddess Nekhbet (right, in vulture form). (535k) Beautifully carved and painted column, showing the Goddess Isis (far left), Nut (center), and her husband Geb (far right). (443k) Example of numbers and dates in hieroglyphics. (806k) Wall with painted reliefs, showing the Pharaoh making offerings to various Gods and Goddesses. On the left is the Pharaoh, with the Gods broken off. On the right are from top to bottom the Goddess Hathor, the God Khonsu, and the God Horus. (724k) Wall with hieroglyphics. On the top left is the God Horus (partial on far left), and the God Shu (with the single feather on his head). Below him is the God Ptah. (673k)
Several Gods receiving offerings. On the left from top are the Goddess Hathor, the God Atum, and the God Sobek. In the middle are, from top, Horus and his wife Hathor, Haroeris, and Hathor, and the God Hapi (bottom right). On the right are, from top, Sobek, Khonsu, and Sobek again. (746k) Relief of Haroeris (right, holding the Was scepter), Wadjet (center, with the Deshret, the Red Crown of Lower Egypt), Nekhbet (left, with the Hedjet, the White Crown of Upper Egypt), crowning Pharaoh Ptolemaios XII in the Temple of Kom Ombo. (613k) Lavishly carved wall, with Haroeris at the bottom left and right, and the winged goddess between them. Above that is the winged Sun Disk of Horus. Above that is (768k) Another wall with lots of hieroglyphics and Gods. On the upper row are from left Khonsu, Sobek, the Pharaoh, and Nephtys. On the lower tier are from left Haroeris, the Pharaoh, Sobek, and the Pharaoh flanked by two unidentified gods (686k) Relief of Geb, wearing the Pshent (center, holding the Was scepter), with his sister/wife Nut (left), and a Pharaoh (right). (608k)
The Pharaoh offering to Haroeris and Hathor. (607k) A winged Goddess between the Apis Bull on the right and a winged lion on the left. My first thought that it is Isis, she is often represented like this. But she has a single feather on her head, which is usually a sign of the Goddess Ma'at. (762k) Beautiful huge relief. I don't know who is represented here. (803k) Another exceptionally carved figure on the same wall. Again I don't know who it represents (I think it is a Pharaoh, probably one of the Ptolemaios Pharaohs. (804k) A Pharaoh making offerings. (775k)
Four rows of instruments. Some say, they represent medical instruments. (509k) The entrance to inner sanctum, with lavish carvings. Over the door is the Horus Sun Disk for protection. (531k) Painted ceiling relief with Nekhbet, the vulture Goddess, and Wadjet, the WingedCobra (532k) The Ankh, symbol for eternal life, holding Was Scepters, the symbol for power. (474k) The Ankh and the Was Scepter above the symbols for the Lotus Flower. (429k)
The Eye of Horus. (590k) Stone blocks were held together by wedging wood pieces into these cutouts. (727k) A lion breathing flames. (619k) Close-up of an exquisitely carved Goddess (I don't know which one it is). (587k)

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The dual entrance gate seen from the river. (382k)	The dual entrance gate. (399k)	Closer view of the dual entrance gate with the Horus Sun Disk over each entrance. (557k)	Carved columns in the Outer Hypostyle Hall. (591k)	Carved and painted column in the Outer Hypostyle Hall, showing the God Sobek to which half the temple was dedicated. (455k)
Top of one of the columns, with carved and painted figures of the God Horus (left, in Falcon form) and the Goddess Nekhbet (right, in vulture form). (535k)	Beautifully carved and painted column, showing the Goddess Isis (far left), Nut (center), and her husband Geb (far right). (443k)	Example of numbers and dates in hieroglyphics. (806k)	Wall with painted reliefs, showing the Pharaoh making offerings to various Gods and Goddesses. On the left is the Pharaoh, with the Gods broken off. On the right are from top to bottom the Goddess Hathor, the God Khonsu, and the God Horus. (724k)	Wall with hieroglyphics. On the top left is the God Horus (partial on far left), and the God Shu (with the single feather on his head). Below him is the God Ptah. (673k)
Several Gods receiving offerings. On the left from top are the Goddess Hathor, the God Atum, and the God Sobek. In the middle are, from top, Horus and his wife Hathor, Haroeris, and Hathor, and the God Hapi (bottom right). On the right are, from top, Sobek, Khonsu, and Sobek again. (746k)	Relief of Haroeris (right, holding the Was scepter), Wadjet (center, with the Deshret, the Red Crown of Lower Egypt), Nekhbet (left, with the Hedjet, the White Crown of Upper Egypt), crowning Pharaoh Ptolemaios XII in the Temple of Kom Ombo. (613k)	Lavishly carved wall, with Haroeris at the bottom left and right, and the winged goddess between them. Above that is the winged Sun Disk of Horus. Above that is (768k)	Another wall with lots of hieroglyphics and Gods. On the upper row are from left Khonsu, Sobek, the Pharaoh, and Nephtys. On the lower tier are from left Haroeris, the Pharaoh, Sobek, and the Pharaoh flanked by two unidentified gods (686k)	Relief of Geb, wearing the Pshent (center, holding the Was scepter), with his sister/wife Nut (left), and a Pharaoh (right). (608k)
The Pharaoh offering to Haroeris and Hathor. (607k)	A winged Goddess between the Apis Bull on the right and a winged lion on the left. My first thought that it is Isis, she is often represented like this. But she has a single feather on her head, which is usually a sign of the Goddess Ma'at. (762k)	Beautiful huge relief. I don't know who is represented here. (803k)	Another exceptionally carved figure on the same wall. Again I don't know who it represents (I think it is a Pharaoh, probably one of the Ptolemaios Pharaohs. (804k)	A Pharaoh making offerings. (775k)
Four rows of instruments. Some say, they represent medical instruments. (509k)	The entrance to inner sanctum, with lavish carvings. Over the door is the Horus Sun Disk for protection. (531k)	Painted ceiling relief with Nekhbet, the vulture Goddess, and Wadjet, the WingedCobra (532k)	The Ankh, symbol for eternal life, holding Was Scepters, the symbol for power. (474k)	The Ankh and the Was Scepter above the symbols for the Lotus Flower. (429k)
The Eye of Horus. (590k)	Stone blocks were held together by wedging wood pieces into these cutouts. (727k)	A lion breathing flames. (619k)	Close-up of an exquisitely carved Goddess (I don't know which one it is). (587k)