Upper Egypt

Upper Egypt is that region of the Nile Valley in Egypt that lies between Luxor in the north and Aswan in the south. The region is characterised by a number of ancient settlements and temple towns that draw thousands of travellers every year.

Esna

Esna is an Egyptian town in the region of Upper Egypt, located on the west bank of the river Nile some 54 km south of Luxor and 53 km north of Edfu.

What to See and Do

The Temple of Esna

The Temple of Esna, open October-May 6am-5.30pm, June-September 6am-6.30pm. The large Graeco-Roman period Temple of Khnum at Edfu is situated rather oddly beneath the level of the modern streets and houses, the result of its excavation from the accumulated debris of the town.

Edfu

Edfu is an Egyptian town in the region of Upper Egypt, located on the west bank of the river Nile some 100 km south of Luxor, 53 km south of Esna and 115 km north of Aswan.

Apart from its ancient remains, Edfu is best known as a largely agricultural town, its main products being sugar cane and pottery.

What to See and Do

The Temple of Edfu

The Temple of Edfu open October-May 7am-4pm, June-September 7am-5pm The large Ptolemaic period Temple of Horus at Edfu is the best-preserved ancient temple structure in Egypt (closely followed by the Temple of Dendera. The sun-deity Horus, usually depicted as a falcon or as a falcon-headed man, enjoyed popular worship in ancient Egypt as one of the chief deities, the son of Osiris. The temple as it stands was started in 237 BCE by Ptolemy III on the site of an earlier New Kingdom structure, and completed almost two centuries later in 57 BCE by Ptolemy XII (father of the famous Cleopatra).

Entrance to the temple is by means of a massive pylon, standing 36 m high and decorated with reliefs of a traditional nature depicting Ptolemy XII smiting his enemies, the monumental gateway is guarded by twin granite falcons, well above life-size.

Kom Ombo

Kom Ombo is a medium-sized Egyptian town in the region of Upper Egypt, located on the east bank of the river Nile some 65 km south of Edfu and some 50 km north of Aswan.

Kom Ombo is an agricultural town, producing mostly irrigated sugar cane and corn, and unremarkable but for the unusual double temple of Ptolemaic date situated picturesquely high on its banks above the river Nile. The town has ancient origins, of which virtually nothing beyond the temple is to be seen today (awaiting excavation!)

What to See and Do

The Temple of Kom Ombo

The Temple ofKom Ombo is an unusual dual Temple of Sobek and Haroeris dating to the reign of Ptolemy VI and part of that ruler's extensive building program. Earlier Pharaonic remains have been detected at the site, but little now remains of these. The temple suffered some damage in the earthquake of 1992 and has been closed until recently for two years' extensive renovation, at a cost of LE 15 million.

The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities has announced (mid-April 2005) that the Kom Ombo temple will re-open to visitors in May 2005, visits now to be augmented by a museum / galleries devoted to the crocodile cult.