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The Temple of Abydos
The Temple of Abydos is located to the west
of El-Baliana, which is a town in Sohag
Governorate. In ancient times it was called
Abdu, and the Greeks called it Abydos. The
8th province in ancient Egypt, this area is
considered to be amongst the most famous
archaeological sites. It was the city were
Menna, the unifier of upper and lower Egypt,
came from, and from the 11th Dynasty
onwards, a burial in Abydos was the ultimate
wish, and honour, for any local to have.
In Abydos, many tombs were found belonging
to the 1st and 2nd Dynasties. Also, many
Kings built Temples here, including King
Pepi I, King Ahmose I, King Seti I and King
Ramses II.
Ancient Egyptians believed that the tomb of
Osiris, the “God of the Dead”, was located
in Abydos, and it is also where his head was
buried.
The Temple of Seti I:
The Temple was built in the reign of King
Seti I and was finished by, first, his son
King Ramses II and then his son, King
Mern-Ptah
It is unique in design as it is in the shape
of an “L”, and it also contains the most
complete lists of Kings and Gods. The Temple
contains 7 shrines dedicated to 7
Gods: Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amon Ra, Ra
HorAkhty and Ptah, and Seti I as a deified
King. You will also find the best-preserved
painted reliefs and texts from the 18th
Dynasty.
The Temple of Abydos was constructed with
white marble and once had a large pylon
built by Ramses II.
The front of the Temple is a square columned
façade and there are 12 rectangular pillars
with decoration of Ramses II welcoming the
Gods Osiris, Isis and Horus. The Temple
originally had 7 gates leading to 7 shrines
originally constructed by Seti I, but
Ramses II made additional parts to the
construction, and only there is one gate
open now.
This gate leads to a hypostyle hall, which
was built and decorated by King Ramses
II, where the columns are decorated with
papyrus bud capitals. There are many
representations of Ramses II offering to
many Gods, here.
Further
west, you will find the second hypostyle
hall, which is the more impressive! Seti II
built this hall, the walls depicting Seti I
giving offerings, to Osiris and Horus, in
front of Osiris shrine. The decorations in
this hall are the best
in the
Temple; the fine painted relief being of the
highest standard.
Behind
that hall there are 7 sanctuaries, dedicated
by Seti I, and made for Osiris, Isis, Horus,
Amon Ra, Ra HorAkhty, Ptah and Seti I as a
deified King. It is believed that these
shrines once contained the sacred boats of
the God's. Each of them has false doors
(except for Osiris) with a Stella mentioning
the God. The shrine of Osiris doesn't have
a false door; it has representations of the
God Osiris’ Jed sign (the pillar of
Osiris), with scenes of the Osiris myth.
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