Facts about Temple of Khnum at Esna
Esna is one of the capital of ancient Egyptian temples. Esna was one of the most respectable cities of ancient Egyptian civilization. The Worshiping had succeeded in them, during Roman and Ptolemaic periods, their influence can be strongly noted in the temples around this area including, the Temple of Esna or the Temple of Khnum.
What is the position of the Temple of Esna ? Situated about 485 miles to the south of the present day Cairo, it is located to the west of the Nile river on its banks of the city of Esna. In ancient Egyptian times, it was on the land of senat, later known by the Greeks as Latopolis. ‘Esna, the city of fish’ (that is where the perch fish was worshiped), has the temple of Esna.
When was the Esna Temple constructed ? Temple of Esna was dedicated to the ram-headed god Khnum creator God. The work on the Temple of Esna started during the reign of king Thutmose III in the 18th dynasty but was finished in the later periods of Ptolemaic and Roman model between years 70Ad-250ad. The temple of esnallah is named after important figures associated with the building, khnum, creation.
The remains of the Esna temple contain a columned hall with 24 pillars beautifully decorated with lotus floral capitals and palm capitals. The walls are covered with 4 rows of reliefs, showing Ptolemaic and Roman emperors dressed in pharaoh costumes, offering sacrifices to the god Khnum. There are rooms on both sides of the temple entrance that were used by the priests and temple guards as storehouses.
Flanking the entrance to each room, you will notice the Emperor Trajan, carried in a litter by six priests, with jackal and falcon masks of the gods. The most interesting inscriptions in this temple are those you will find on the roof, decorated with astronomical representations. On the left side of the temple's entrance door, you can see the sky goddess Nut, the Dog Star, Orion's Belt, and Alpha Draconis (or the Dragon Star).
On the west wall of the Temple façade, one can see the god Horus, god of victory, and the god Khnum, pulling a net full of fish from the Nile, as well as reliefs of birds. Significantly at the foot of this representation are the last known hieroglyphic inscriptions ever recorded, completed by the Roman emperor Dios in 250 AD.
The Importance of Rituals in the Ancient Temples of Esna
When you enter the Temple of Esna, it is easy to see their attention to detail when building this temple. The ancient Egyptians who entered the Temple of Esna adhered to stringent regulations about ceremonial purity since it was revered as a hallowed site of devotion.The inscriptions carved on the walls of the temple imply the strict rules that must be followed to enter the temple, such as cutting fingernails and toenails, washing hands with a natural salt called natron, wearing linen, and not having sexual intercourse for several days.
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