Abydos temple is one of the holiest & oldest sites in the history of ancient Egypt “Abydos”, Located 11 km (6.8mi) west of the Nile and is considered to be amongst the most famous and important archaeological sites in the world.
The site dates back to the Predynastic Period which operated as a necropolis under the name of UMM El Qa’ab “The Mother of Pots”, a royal cemetery of the 1st (2925-2775 BCE) and 2nd (2775-2650 BCE) dynasties for the Egyptian royalty, a pilgrimage center for the worship of the god “Osiris” and a supposed gateway to the Underworld.
The temple holds the tomb of Narmer the founder of the First Dynasty and it was the center of the cult of Osiris but originally sacred to the jackal-headed god Wepwawet but he couldn’t overpower the new dominance of the God of the underworld.
The main attraction at Abydos is the Temple of Seti I (1318-1304 BC) which was constructed around 1300 BC and completed by his son Ramses II (1304-1237 BC). Despite being built in the new kingdom, it still carried artistic revival of the old Kingdom Spirit. The temple marks king Seti’s attempt to consolidate the Ramessid dynasty after the losses created by Akhenaten.
Many generations in ancient times choose to be buried next to the temple of Osiris to win his graces in the afterlife. Abydos temple was rebuilt and enlarged by many Pharaohs of the Middle and the New Kingdom. The temple is quite famous because of the Pseudo archaeology theory “Helicopter Hieroglyphs” which are carvings of Hieroglyphs found on an arch that resembles a helicopter, a battle tank, a submarine, and a fighter plane that looks like a U.F.O.
Abydos temple is very huge and holds a number of ruins around the edge of the desert. The most renowned monument is the Grand Temple of Seti I, known for its unique architectural design as it has an L-shaped layout and its seven sanctuaries are dedicated to the Pharaoh & the principal gods of Egypt Ptah, Re-Herakhte, Amun, Osiris, Isis, and Horus, and two broad hypostyle halls.
The temple contains many inscriptions and decorations of Seti and his son Ramses II in the Galley of the Kings making an offering to the cartouches of their deceased predecessors like Menes, Hatshepsut, Akhenaton, and many others.
North of the temple of Seti is the majestic Osireion (Seti I cenotaph), a room made of massive stone blocks, and one contained a mound surrounded by a moat which symbolizes the primal mound that came out from the waters of chaos at the dawn of Creation and promotes a close connection between the pharaoh’s Ka and Osiris. About 300m northeast of Seti’s temple lays the ruins of the temple of Ramses II and other vast complexes from the prehistorical age to the Roman times.
The temple is located in Upper Egypt, so you can visit it during your Nile river cruise with tours to the main attractions in Egypt, check our cheap Vacations to Egypt it's great tours to Egypt.
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