Kom Ombo Temple

History

The Temple of Kom Ombo was erected between 180 B.C. and 47 B.C., although later, during the Roman invasion, some extensions were made. Its particularity lies in its double design, with duplicated accesses, rooms, patios and sanctuaries. to give shelter to the two gods to whom its construction was dedicated: Sobeka crocodile-headed god with a human body, who for the Ptolemaic Egyptians was the god of fertility and the creator of the world; and HorusThe god of royalty in the sky, of hunting and war, son of Isis and Osiris, represented with a falcon’s head.

It is located 40 km north of the city of Aswan, on a rocky promontory in a bend of the Nile River. It owes its name to the ancient Egyptian site of Ombos, which derives from an ancient Egyptian word nwbt, meaning gold. This does not mean that there was gold in this place but that it was an important strategic point for ancient Egypt, since from this city it was possible to control the routes of the commercial caravans that went to Nubia through the Nile valley.

The originality of its double design is highlighted by a perfect symmetry, through which the two parts are perfectly aligned along a longitudinal axis. Every detail that appears on one side is reproduced identically on the other. On its façade there are two independent entrances and in its interior, some spaces are shared.

The Temple of Kom Ombo was not only intended for the worship of the gods and as a place for prayer. It was also used to teach the art of mummification and various medical techniques. Although most of the original structure of the temple has been destroyed by successive floods of the Nile and by looting, some paintings are preserved in good condition on its walls and testify to the fact that This site was not only a place of prayer but also a place to learn how to cure the sick and mummify the dead. In one of the paintings you can see the different surgical instruments used by doctors, in another there are breads whose mushrooms were used to disinfect wounds and there are also images of the opium plant, used as an anesthetic.

Among the most important relics that can be found in this double temple, we should mention the black diorite tables dedicated to offerings, the triad of Horus, Tasenetnefret and Panebtawy, the triad of Sobek, Hathor and Jonsu and the chapel of Hathor, with some very well preserved crocodile mummies. In 2012, the Crocodile Museum opened its doors, aimed at unifying in one place all the archaeological pieces found in Kom Ombo.

The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities announced in 2018 the discovery of a bust of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, which accounts for the period of Roman domination over Ptolemaic Egypt. And that same year, another important discovery was also announced: a sandstone sphinx 28 cm wide by 38 cm high belonging to the Ptolemaic period.

How to get to the Temple of Kom Ombo

The visits to the temple are part of the Nile cruise route. If you cruise from the city of Luxor, the Temple of Kom Ombo will be one of the last stops before reaching the city of Aswan. On the other hand, if you start in the opposite direction, it will be the first stop.

It is best to visit the site during one of these cruises. But if you decide to do it on your own, the city of Kom Ombo has a train station well connected to most major Egyptian cities. And from the station, you can take a cab to the temple area.

Schedules

Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Visit prices

The general entrance fee to the Temple of Kom Ombo for adults is 80 EGP and for students 40 EGP, always without taking into account the cost of the guided tour that we recommend you to hire. In many cases, the entrance fee and guide is included in the Nile cruise. Some agencies sell packs with an excursion that includes, in addition, a visit to the Temple of Edfu and costs between 55 and 75 €, with guide service.