Ercolano, Italy
7th century BCE
Pompei, Italy
7th century BCE
Città Metropolitana di Roma, Italy
335 BC
Torre Annunziata, Italy
100-0 BCE
Pompei, Italy
0-100 AD
Napoli, Italy
37 BCE
Podgorica, Montenegro
0-100 AD
The Temple of Edfu is one of the best preserved ancient shrines in Egypt. It was built in the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC.
Edfu was one of several temples built during the Ptolemaic Kingdom, including the Dendera Temple complex, Esna, the Temple of Kom Ombo, and Philae. Its size reflects the relative prosperity of the time. The present temple initially consisted of a pillared hall, two transverse halls, and a barque sanctuary surrounded by chapels. The building was started during the reign of Ptolemy III Euergetes and completed in 57 BC under Ptolemy XII Auletes. It was built on the site of an earlier, smaller temple also dedicated to Horus, although the previous structure was oriented east–west rather than north–south as in the present site.