Egypt is a travel destination which is
open to all. However, its main attractions are historical. Therefore, it is
crucial that you learn about a few facts about the site which you will be
seeing. The Temple of Edfu is one of the most beautiful and also famous places
in Egypt. Among all the Ptolemaic shrines, this temple is the most luxurious
and entirely complete. Most of the other temples of Egypt now lie in ruins but
not the temple of Edfu. It retains most of its original form, unlike the
others. The shrine is a dedication to the ancient Egyptian God, Horus.
An
introduction
Before joining the Edfu light
and sound show, you must learn a bit
about this building. The temple is at the city of Edfu, almost seven hundred
and seventy-eight kilometers away from Cairo. Its characteristics are its
magnitude and humungous construction. The temple was where people worshipped
the god, Horus of Bahdity. The deity has a strange visage, like most other
divinities of ancient Egypt. Horus has the head of a falcon over the body of a
human. Previously, Edfu was known as Bahdat, which led to the coinage of the
word ‘Bahdity.’ The construction of the temple went on for a hundred years, and
a great archeologist discovered it in 1860.
About
the monument
As mentioned earlier, the temple of Edfu
is the only Egyptian temple which retains its structural integrity. Before you
watch the Edfu light and sound show, you’ll explore the temple. You’ll enter
through an open courtyard with an edifice. Once you pass through the first
courtyard, you’ll reach a second with two statues of Horus. From there you’ll
enter a hall with two compartments. One of those rooms used to be a library and
the other a storeroom for religious tools and vessels. If you continue ahead,
then you’ll reach the opening of two corridors. One will lead you to the
provision room for sacrifices and the other to a resting place for the idol. In
the end, you’ll set foot inside the sanctum sanatorium.
A
legendary story
Like most other Egyptian constructions,
there is a legend related to the Edfu temple. There was a conflict between the
two Gods, Horus, and Set. The story narrates how Horus overcame the evil
machinations of Set. The son of Isis helped Horus in the battle. A group of men
who were pioneers of the metal industry stood beside Horus. On the other side,
the women of Abusir and the priests of Edfu sang about Horus’s exploits. The
worshippers dedicated their fidelity towards Hathor, the Goddess of Dandaras,
along with Horus. This event led to a relationship of love to establish between
Horus and Hathor. The story ends with Horus uniting two countries and two
deities.
About
the show
The show will begin as you enter the
area through the marine side. The story will come to you in three phases. The
first will be about the history of the temple. The second will introduce the
magnificence of sound and light effects. You’ll walk through the halls while
the ancient Egyptian creed sings their hymns once again for you. The final phase
will include folkloric celebrations and ritual to recreate the past before your
eyes.
