On the west bank of the Nile in Edfu in Upper Egypt stands the iconic Ptolemaic Edfu Temple, a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture.
Over the centuries, soot, dust, and environmental damage have dulled the temple’s engravings, concealing the original details of its wall paintings and reliefs. However, a recent restoration project, begun in 2022, has now successfully removed layers of debris from the walls, uncovering vibrant blues, reds, and yellows that illuminate the temple’s stone carvings.
The remarkable restoration of the Temple of Edfu, one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient monuments, has revealed vibrant new scenes and intricate colours that have remained hidden for centuries. The meticulous work, carried out by a team of Egyptian and German experts, has breathed new life into the temple, offering fresh insights into its rich history and artistic grandeur.
The project focused on cleaning and restoring the temple’s roof, walls, and inner chambers, which are dedicated to the god Horus. It aimed to preserve the ancient structure and digitally document its inscriptions with more accurate transcriptions than those published in the past century.
The restorers were astonished to find previously unnoticed depictions of religious rituals, processions, and offerings to Horus and other deities. One newly revealed scene portrays the ceremonial purification of the king surrounded by divine figures and rendered in striking detail.
Another panel, now visible for the first time in centuries, showcases the goddess Hathor adorned with elaborate jewellery, her image painted in shades of gold and azure.
Inside the temple, the restorers uncovered painted scenes and Demotic inscriptions written by priests describing their entry into the heart of the temple along with traces of the gold that once gilded reliefs depicting deities and royal symbols.
“The newly uncovered inscriptions suggest that parts of the temple were once adorned with gilded copper sheets, remnants of which were found on the upper walls of the sacred barque shrine,” said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), who described the restoration project as a “journey back in time”.
“What we are witnessing here is a rebirth of the temple’s artistic soul. The pigments are remarkably well-preserved, and these scenes provide us with a deeper understanding of the craftsmanship and symbolism of the Ptolemaic period,” he said.
Regarding the Demotic inscriptions, Martin A. Stadler, project director and Egyptology professor at the Julius-Maximilian University in Würzburg in Germany, emphasised their importance, describing it as unique in describing the priests’ entry into the Holy of the Holies.
Such inscriptions are rarely found in a temple’s innermost areas, he said.
Stadler said that the paintings provide further details of scenes and hieroglyphs that could not be identified in the reliefs alone, such as elements of clothing or offerings. The craftsmen also used colour to correct the hieroglyphs carved in stone, he said.
Victoria Altmann-Wendling, project manager and research fellow in the Horus Beḥedety Project at the Julius-Maximilian University, emphasised the significance of the temple’s gilded figures, saying that the gilding only served to symbolically immortalise and deify them but also contributed to the mystical aura of the room.
“It must have been very impressive, especially when the sunlight was shining into the temple,” she said, adding that the fact that the gods were completely gilded was particularly interesting as “we find this in the textual sources that describe the flesh of the gods as consisting of gold.”
The discoveries add to the Temple’s allure, enriching its narrative and historical significance.
“For decades, visitors have marvelled at the grandeur of the Edfu Temple, but these revelations elevate the experience,” said restorer Mona Hassan. “The newly uncovered colours make the temple feel more alive, as though the walls themselves were telling ancient stories.”
The restoration work, which comes as part of a broader initiative to preserve Egypt’s cultural heritage and enhance tourism, will also take in the temple’s first pylon, including the consolidation and cleaning of its walls and the installing of a new lighting system to enhance the visitor experience within the Temple.
This pylon offers a panoramic view of the whole temple and its surroundings. New signage will be installed within the project. A new reception hall has been provided and three electronic ticketing devices installed at the entrance of the temple.
Located between Luxor and Aswan, the Edfu Temple is a major archaeological attraction, drawing thousands of visitors annually. With these new discoveries made within the context of its restoration, officials anticipate an increase in interest in the temple from scholars, tourists, and history enthusiasts.
Local guide Mahmoud Ibrahim described the restoration as a “game-changer” for tourism in the region. “It’s like seeing the temple for the first time. These colours are so vivid, they transport you straight into the time of the Pharaohs,” he said.
The restoration team continues to work on other sections of the temple, confident that more hidden treasures await discovery. As the colours and carvings re-emerge, the Temple of Edfu stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of ancient Egyptian civilisation.
For now, visitors can witness firsthand the breathtaking results of the project and glimpse into a world that has been silent for millennia, now speaking again through its vibrant art and timeless beauty.
The Temple of Edfu, dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, is one of the most complete and striking ancient Egyptian temples. Located on the west bank of the Nile, its construction began in 237 BCE during the reign of Ptolemy III (246-221 BCE) and was completed 180 years later under the rule of Ptolemy XII (80-51 BCE) in 57 BCE.
Remarkably well-preserved, the Temple owes its survival to being buried under layers of sand and settlement debris for centuries. This natural covering protected its architectural and decorative elements from the ravages of time. It was not until 1860 that the French archaeologist Auguste Mariette uncovered and began restoring parts of the temple, revealing its grandeur to the modern world.
The temple’s fronted façade is dominated by two massive pylons, which form its grand entrance. These are adorned with intricate reliefs depicting Ptolemy XII triumphing over his enemies and performing rituals before the gods. Flanking the entrance stand two monumental granite statues of Horus, a powerful symbol of protection and kingship.
Passing through the pylons, visitors enter a vast peristyle court. This open courtyard is surrounded by towering columns with elaborately carved floral capitals, showcasing the artistic finesse of the temple’s builders. The court would have been a gathering space for worshippers and processions during religious festivals.
Beyond the court lie two hypostyle halls, which are richly decorated with symbolic scenes. The first illustrates the foundation of the temple, with the king depicted in acts of worship and ritual offerings. The second features detailed carvings of Horus’s journey across the Nile in a sacred bark, accompanied by Hathor, goddess of love and motherhood.
These halls emphasise the central role of religious processions and ceremonies within the temple’s functions.
From the second hall, visitors move into a transverse hall, a transitional space that leads to the most sacred part of the temple: the sanctuary. Here, the central shrine once housed the sacred statue of Horus and a ceremonial barque that was used in rituals.
The sanctuary, carved from a single block of granite, served as the spiritual heart of the temple and a focal point for its rituals.
The Temple of Edfu is not only an architectural marvel but also a repository of Ptolemaic religious beliefs and artistic expression. Its walls are inscribed with hieroglyphic texts and intricate reliefs that tell the story of Horus’ mythological battles, including his victory over Seth, the god of chaos.
These scenes reinforced Horus’ role as a protector of order and the divine legitimacy of the Ptolemaic kings.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 19 December, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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