Kom Ombo Temple

Kom Ombo is located 45 km north of Aswan, 60 km south of Edfu, and 165 km south of Luxor on the eastern bank of the Nile. The city lies at a strategic point, leading to ancient gold mines in the eastern desert. It was also one of the great cities of the first nome of Upper Egypt.

Name of Kom Ombo

The town was known as Nebit (from Nbw “gold”) in ancient Egypt and “Ombos” in the Greco-Roman period and “Ombo” in the Coptic language. The modern name Kom, means ‘pile’ and Ombo means ‘gold’ so, it is the Pile of Gold. Because the temple of Kom Ombo was built on a higher place. Kom Ombo is now famous for this temple of Horus and Sobek.

History of Kom Ombo Temple

The Temple of Kom Omb is visited mostly by the Nile River cruises or by the Dahabiya Nile cruises or by the Felucca boats and sometimes by road from Aswan or Luxor. It was built during the Greco-Roman period. It was built over the ruined temple of the New Kingdom. The temple began during the time of Ptolemy V and was completed by the time of Emperor Tiberius. The emperors Domitian, Caracalla, and others added to the temple. So it took about 400 years to finish.

The Kom Ombo temple is dedicated to the of Horus and Sobek. The right part of the temple is dedicated to Sobek (Crocodile deity), his consort Hathor and their son Khonsu.  While the left part of the temple is dedicated to Horus the Elder (Heru-ur or Haroeris), his consort Tasenetnofret (“the good sister”), and their son Panebtawy (the Lord of the Two Lands).

Nothing to separate between the two parts of the temple, just an imaginary line made by the goddess Ma’at (deity of Justice in ancient Egypt).

Description of the temple

Kom Ombo temple was built from the north to the south and entered from the first pylon. This pylon dates back to emperor Domitian, and a large part of the pylon is missing. The pylon leads to an open court. This open court was built by Emperor Tiberius and it has 16 columns. Mohamed Ali, owner of the famous mosque Cairo, cut the columns of this court off to build the Sugar Factory of the town.

The court leads you to the Great Hypostyle Hall. This hall consists of 15 columns, and it was was built during the reign of Ptolemy XII. A beautiful scene of the coronation of the king depicts the king receives the Ankh symbol from goddess Sekhmet.

Second Hypostyle Hall

The Great Hypostyle Hall leads to a smaller Hypostyle Hall. This smaller hall consisted of 10 columns and dating back to Ptolemy VIII. A very detailed scene of the coronation of the pharaoh is found in this hall. The king is being purified by Gods Horus and Thoth, then receiving the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt from Nekhbet (Upper Egypt) and Wadjet (Lower Egypt). After that, the king will be rewarded the Khepresh (victory) sword. This hall leads to two other rooms and finally to the sanctuary of the temple.

There are seven rooms in the back of the sanctuary, outside the sacred part of the temple, were working as storerooms or for another reason, maybe as a sanatorium.

The temple of Kom Ombo was well-known in ancient Egypt for its sanatorium. So, one the famous scenes of the temple is the scene of the surgical instruments. This scene is depicted on the enclosure wall behind the storerooms. The scene depicts the king of Egypt offers some surgical instruments to Imhotep. He was the vizier of Djoser, and the architect of the Step Pyramid in Saqqara. Imhotep was deified as the deity of medicine and engineering during the Greco-Roman period. Some of these tools are still in use by surgeons till now.

Nilometer of Kom Ombo Temple

The Nilometer of Kom Ombo is a remarkable ancient structure located within the Temple of Kom Ombo, showcasing the ingenuity of ancient Egyptian engineering. This device was used to measure the Nile River’s water levels, an essential practice for predicting the annual inundation. Which determined agricultural prosperity and the collection of taxes.

The Nilometer consists of a series of graduated steps or a vertical shaft, where priests would monitor the rising and falling water levels. The measurements were crucial for planning farming activities and maintaining a balanced economy.

Visiting the Nilometer offers a glimpse into how the ancient Egyptians harmonized their lives with the rhythms of the Nile, further emphasizing the river’s central role in their civilization. It is a subtle yet significant feature of the temple, adding depth to your exploration of Kom Ombo.

The Crocodile Museum

The Crocodile Museum in Kom Ombo is a fascinating attraction located near the Temple of Kom Ombo. Dedicated to the ancient Egyptian crocodile deity Sobek, the museum offers a unique glimpse into the role crocodiles played in Egyptian mythology and daily life.

Visitors can marvel at a collection of mummified crocodiles, crocodile eggs, and other artifacts, showcasing the reverence ancient Egyptians had for these creatures. Informative displays explain Sobek’s significance as a symbol of fertility, protection, and power.

The museum’s modern design and air-conditioned interiors provide a comfortable and enriching experience for those curious about Egypt’s rich history. It’s a must-visit for anyone exploring the Kom Ombo area.

Kom Ombo Temple is included in most of our Egypt tour packages as well as some of Aswan Day Tours and Luxor Day Tours.

How to get to Kom Ombo Temple from Aswan?