Lonely Planet Egypt (Country Guide) by Firestone Matthew & Benanav Michael & Hall Tom & Sattin Anthony

Author:Firestone, Matthew & Benanav, Michael & Hall, Tom & Sattin, Anthony [Firestone, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Lonely Planet
Published: 2010-09-23T04:00:00+00:00

Back in the inner hypostyle hall, exit through the large central doorway to enter the offering chamber, or first antechamber, which has an altar where daily offerings of fruit, flowers, wine, milk and other foods were left. On the west side, 242 steps lead up to the rooftop and a fantastic view of the Nile and the surrounding fields. You may have to pay the guard a bit of baksheesh if you want to go up here.

The second antechamber gives access to the sanctuary of Horus, which still contains the polished-granite shrine that once housed the gold cult statue of Horus. Created during the reign of Nectanebo II (360–343 BC), this statue was reused by the Ptolemies in their newer temple. All around Horus’ sanctuary are smaller shrines of other gods, including Hathor, Ra and Osiris, and, at the very back, a modern reproduction of the wooden barque in which Horus’ statue would be taken out of the temple in procession during festive occasions.

On the eastern enclosure wall look for the remains of the Nilometer, which measured the level of the river and helped predict the coming harvest. For more on Nilometers and their importance in ancient Egypt, see boxed text.

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