| The Kom Ombo Temple was located right by the river dock in Kom Ombo. Like Edfu Temple, this temple was Greco-Roman in architecture and built by the Ptolemies. This temple was unusual as it was dedicated to two gods, Horus (god of protection) and Sobek (crocodile god of the Nile). As a result, it was split into two parts with two entrances and with each side housing its own god. The left side was dedicated to Horus; the right side was dedicated to Sobek. In ancient Egypt, cult temples were dedicated either to a god loved or a god feared. Along this part of the Nile, crocodiles were feared; people lost their lives to these reptiles. So, what better way to appease the crocodile than to elevate it to a god and then ask for its protection. Inside the hypostyle hall, painted parts of the original 2000 year old ceiling showing the vulture (a lesser god of protection) could still be seen. |
