Edfu

Facade with Pylon of the Temple of Horus at Edfu

The Temple of Horus at Edfu has a massive entrance pylon covered with sunk relief carvings which were originally brightly painted. Constructed of sandstone, this Ptolemaic temple was built between 237 and 57 B.C.E.

Once a year for the "Feast of the Beautiful Meeting," Hathor traveled from Dendara to Edfu to visit her husband/consort, Horus. Her arrival was scheduled for the afternoon of the new moon. The statues of the deities remained in the mammisi or birth house (not pictured) until the end of the festival at the full moon. The result of their union was their son Ihy or Horus-Sematawy (see the Painted Raised Relief of Bes and the Divine Triad of Dendara).