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The Ptolomaic temple was once part of a larger
area where artefacts of the Old, Middle and New Kingdom were also found.
It is dedicated to Horus, the falcon headed god of Egyption mythology.
The building was begun in 237 BC by Ptolemy III Euergetes, was extended
and embellished then over a period of 180 years and finally finished by
Cleopatra's father, Ptolemy VII, around 57 BC. It is the best preserved
and, after that of Karnak, the largest temple in Egypt.
 We
were deeply impressed by its dimension, sublime beauty and the abundance
of well-preserved, elaborate reliefs, which decorate all walls and columns.
The hieroglyphic
and graphic stonemason works report on the erection of the temple,
the heroic deeds of the Pharaohs and the mythology of the old Egypt. The
magnificent Pylon of the temple has a height of 118 feet and leads into
a colonnaded courtyard, which adjoin the marvellous hypostyle hall and
numerous further well preserved parts of the temple.
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