Kom Ombo Temple, Aswan Governorate, Egypt

Mar 5, 2024 | Ancient Site, Egypt, Historical Building

The Kom Ombo Temple is an ancient Egyptian temple located in the town of Kom Ombo, about 40 kilometers north of Aswan in Upper Egypt.

Kom Ombo Temple: Nagoa Ash Shatb, Markaz Kom Ombo, Aswan Governorate 1281301, Egypt
Date Picture Taken: February, 2024

In order to get to Luxor from Aswan, I hired a driver who took me on a whole day’s journey from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. I chose this route because there were two temples along the way to Aswan that I wanted to see.

The two temples were the Kom Ombo temple and the Edfu temple. The first temple was Kom Ombo, and I spent about 40 minutes to see it.

It is a unique temple dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder, the falcon-headed god.

Panoramic view of the temple

The right side

The construction of the Kom Ombo Temple began in the Ptolemaic period (around 180–47 BCE) and continued during the Roman period. The temple has undergone various renovations and additions over the centuries. The reliefs and inscriptions on the temple walls provide valuable insights into the religious beliefs, rituals, and daily life of ancient Egyptians.

One of the most distinctive features of the Kom Ombo Temple is its dual design, with symmetrical sections dedicated to each of the two gods. The temple essentially consists of two separate but connected sanctuaries and sets of halls, each with its own entrance, hypostyle hall, and other essential elements.

The left side of the temple is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god associated with fertility and protection. The right side is dedicated to Horus the Elder, the falcon-headed god of the sky and kingship. Worshippers could visit both sides of the temple to pay homage to both deities.