| Like all pharaohs, it was necessary for Ptolemy III to validate his claim to the throne. In Edfu Temple, many reliefs purported this fact. One of our favorite reliefs was the beautiful high relief of Ptolemy III being anointed with protective incense by the two gods, the cobra and the falcon (Horus). Interestingly, in this relief he�s also portrayed in �ideal� athletic art profile, with his entire body in profile except for his broad shoulders and flat stomach. As we left the temple and looked out at the surrounding area, the orange buildings in the distance provided us a picture of the original height of the street level before excavation. This temple lay buried under sand and silt for almost 2000 years before being excavated. |
