Overview:

The Temple of Horus at Behedet, or Behdit, is located in Sohag Governorate in Upper Egypt. The temple is dedicated to Horus, the ancient Egyptian falcon-headed god of war and protection. It dates back to the 26th Dynasty, between the 663 and 525 B.C., during the rule of Psamtik I and Ahmose II. It was originally part of a military fortification surrounding the city of Behedet, which was located at the entrance of the city's harbor, and served to protect the city from invasion and piracy. The temple itself is constructed out of mudbrick and is composed of a number of chambers and courtyards. The main chamber of the temple is supported by four pillars and features a large statue of Horus. Other chambers include a sanctuary, a chapel, an offering chamber, and a mammisi or birth house. The temple is decorated with reliefs and scenes depicting scenes from Egyptian mythology, such as the hunt of a Hippopotamus by the gods Seth and Horus. In the 19th century, Behedet was renamed Kom Lolah by the rulers of the Ottoman Empire who redeveloped the city. Today, the Temple of Horus is a popular tourist attraction and is included in many guided tours of the area. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt
Prominent Features:

The Temple of Horus at Behedet—also known as the Hor-Behedet—is an ancient Egyptian temple located in the city of Sohag in Upper Egypt. It is an example of an early Egyptian cult temple dedicated to the worship of the falcon god Horus. The temple was built around 3000 BCE during the Middle Kingdom and was dedicated to the worship of Horus, the Falcon god, who was seen as the divine ruler of the living as well as the dead and protector of the Pharaohs. The temple itself is set on a large sandstone platform and consists of several typically Egyptian elements. The entrance is reached by a columned forecourt, which has been partially reconstructed. At the center of the forecourt is a monumental gateway which leads to a hypostyle hall, filled with engaged columns and decorated with religious scenes. This leads into the main court which is surrounded by sixteen smaller chapels and a few shrines. The walls of the chapels are painted with scenes of Horus and his heavenly court. At the back of the main court lies the Temple's Sanctuary. This small, square chamber, was where the actual cult activities took place, and within it is a large sacred lake that the Egyptians believed to be the home of Horus. The walls of the Sanctuary are also decorated with scenes of Horus and were once filled with precious jewels. The design of the Temple is sophisticated and extremely symbolic. It is believed to represent the journey of Horus in the underworld, with the main court symbolizing his battle with his enemies and the Sanctuary his ultimate victory and enthronement in the heavens. The Temple of Horus at Behedet remains an important archaeological site and attracts visitors from all corners of the globe. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Egypt.

History:

The Temple of Horus at Behedet (also known as the Temple of Edfu) is a temple in Sohag, Egypt that was built in the Ptolemaic Period, during the reign of Ptolemy III and his son, Ptolemy IV. The temple is dedicated to Horus, the god of war and protection. It is located in the ancient city of Edfu, near the modern city of Sohag, in Middle Egypt. The temple is considered to be the best-preserved temple in Egypt, and one of the most complete examples of an Egyptian temple of the Greco-Roman period. The temple was built on the site of an earlier temple that had been destroyed during the Assyrian invasion of Egypt in the 7th century BC. It was constructed in two phases, the first under Ptolemy III, beginning in 237 BC, and the second under Ptolemy IV, beginning in approximately 180 BC. The temple was constructed using stone and sandstone, and covered an area of around 37,000 sq m. The temple is divided into three parts – the outer court, the hypostyle hall, and the inner chamber. The entrance is a massive gate known as the pylon, which is decorated with two obelisks and three giant statues depicting Horus, Isis, and a representation of Ptolemy IV. Inside the temple is the Hall of Offerings, which has pillars decorated with reliefs depicting the gods and goddesses of Ancient Egypt, including Osiris, Isis, Horus, Maat, and Thoth. The walls also feature scenes ofEgyptian festivals, gods and goddesses, royal coronations, and the battles of Horus and Seth. The temple also houses a small chapel dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of music and dance. The ceiling is decorated with stellar signs, and the walls feature bas-reliefs of Hathor, together with the pharaohs of the time. The Temple of Horus at Behedet is a popular tourist destination. It is one of the few ancient temples that still retain their original form and decoration, and is noted for its impressively preserved reliefs and sculptures. Visit one of the famous monuments of Egypt with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Temple of Horus at Behedet in Sohag, Egypt, is the largest and most impressive temple dedicated to the sun god Horus in all of Egypt. 2. The Temple of Horus at Behedet is believed to have been built during the Ptolemaic Dynasty, around 300 BC. 3. Built on the ruins of an older temple, the temple was originally dedicated to the goddess Hathor, but was later devoted to Horus. 4. The temple consists of an impressive hypostyle hall in the form of a pylon, flanked by two towers on either side. 5. The temple complex was built using stones and mud bricks, and it is estimated that more than 75,000 blocks of stone were used in the temple's construction. 6. The inside of the temple contains several shrines dedicated to various gods, including Horus, Hathor and Anubis. 7. This temple is famous for its columns, which are decorated with hieroglyphic texts. 8. The Temple of Horus at Behedet also includes a Re-Harakhti chapel, where the god's regalia was kept for ritual use. This area is also decorated with reliefs depicting Horus. 9. Archaeologists have discovered a number of interesting artifacts in the temple, including a fragment of a mud-brick block bearing the name of the Ptolemy IX Soter. 10. Today, the temple is considered one of the best-preserved and most impressive examples of Egyptian architecture. It is open to the public and is a popular tourist destination. One of the historical monuments of Egypt, it tells the story of a bygone era