Temple of Kom Ombo

Kom Ombo 

Kom Ombo, one of the most famous cities in Egypt not only nowadays but also in ancient times, the importance of this city not just because of its temple, which exists on the east bank of the Nile, and the principal temple in each Nile cruise program, but also for significant strategic arguments.   

First of all city of Kom Ombo was dedicated to the second province in Egypt . according to hierarchy and Egypt’s map and administrative divisions: this city was associated with the second province in Egypt . in ancient Egyptian from the first dynasty in ancient Egypt, this country had 42 provinces, each province had his governor, whom the kings nominate, ruling this province under the domination of king and the central government in the capital of Egypt . and administrative division of Egypt was formulated excitingly, they numbered the provinces from south to the north, in other words, it is connected with river Nile, which floods from the south to the north, from the first cataract of the Nile in Aswan till Meditteranean sea. 

So the first province in Egypt was Aswan. The second province was Edfu, and the second province of Egypt was the related city Kom Ombo. 

The etymology of Kom Ombo  

Kom means hill or small mountain. Many cities and villages named kom because these hills were the perfect settlements for the ancient Egyptian because of the annual Nile flood. Ombo derived from the ancient Egyptian word inbw, which means gold since there was much gold in this city in ancient Egypt. 

 History of the city  

The city has a very long history, from the predynastic period until now, was for the local god Sobek and Horus. 

 Archaeologists and geologists found many traces from this era that reflect how ancient this place is and the god Sobek cult. 

In this city was a tremendous military zone. Many soldiers had their practice for military mission s in this city and workshops to make military equipment and primary weapons. They organized expeditions to India through the eastern desert till the ancient port on the red sea “Berenice “nearby Marsa Alam. 

 To bring the Indian elephant, which was utilized during their military expedition, Egypt lies in Africa, and closer to them could be African elephants.

 However, they preferred the Indian because it is easier to tame than the African. Meanwhile, this city had an exciting feature. The river Nile’s torsion in front of this city. this torsion and the annual flood of river Nile were naturally created island through cumulative mud and sand brought by the rivers flood. On this island settled crocodiles. Through observations of crocodile’s behaviors, the ancient Egyptians noticed that it is an extraordinary animal, divined it, and chose to represent the god soul of god Sobek. 

The map of the temple

The main difference between the temple of Kom Ombo and other temples is that: this is a double temple, has two entrances, two halls of columns, and two sanctuaries for two gods Horus and Sobek. 

The temple was constructed for over 380 years. It is a Greco-roman temple, which was built during the reign of the Ptolemaic family. However, the temple is hugely demolished; till now, one can recognize the temple’s map from the first pylon till the sanctuary of the temple and the outer corridor which surrounded the whole temple. 

Interesting facts about this temple   

•   However, this temple is hugely demolished, still having original colors for more than 2000 years. 
•  It is the only double temple in all Egypt dedicated to 2 deities in ancient Egypt. 
• In a great scene is the temple’s division between god Horus and god Sobek by goddess maat god of truth in ancient Egypt. 
• The temple has a calendar that documents the offerings to the temple according to the date. 
• In this temple, there are exciting scenes of life in ancient Egypt about gynecology like chair birth and the position of suckling infants’ milk by his mother.
•   By the end of the temple, visitors can see the hall of medical equipment, reflecting the progress and level of medicine in ancient Egypt.