Explore Kom Ombo's Twin Temples and Crocodile God
The town of Kom Ombo was a stop along my 4-day Nile River cruise.
My wife and I embarked on a long-awaited journey to Egypt in March 2023, starting with a hectic three-day tour of Cairo and Giza. We then flew on Egypt Air to Luxor and boarded our cruise ship, the Steinberger Minerva. Our four-day Nile River cruise took us from Luxor to Aswan, with several stops along the way. After two days in Luxor and a visit to Edfu, we concluded the day in Kom Ombo, home of the unique double temple.
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The Temple of Kom Ombo
The Temple of Kom Ombo is a fascinating architectural marvel. It was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty between 180 and 47 BC, with some later additions during the Roman period.
The temple is unique because it is a "double temple," with courts, halls, sanctuaries, and rooms that are duplicated for two sets of gods.
The southern part of the temple was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world. He was worshipped alongside Hathor and Khonsu.
The northern half was dedicated to the falcon god Horus the Elder, along with Tasenetnofret and Panebtawy. Everything is perfectly symmetrical along the central axis.
This temple is a must-see. The well-preserved columns and walls are adorned with intricate carvings and impressive hieroglyphics. On the temple's inner back wall, a very special relief is visible. It is the first known representation of a set of surgical instruments. The carvings depict tools such as scalpels, bone saws, dental tools, and forceps, along with women giving birth in a birthing chair. The temple's ancient Egyptians used the site as a clinic for fertility treatments and other forms of medicine.
The name Kom-Ombo means "the hill of the crocodile." The ancient Egyptians worshipped crocodiles, and Kom-Ombo was a sacred site for crocodile worship. Priests would keep crocodiles in the temple. When a crocodile died, it was mummified and replaced by another. This practice was to honor Sobek, the crocodile god.
The temple offers panoramic views of the Nile River and the surrounding landscape, making it a picturesque spot for stunning photos. You will see a Nilometer, a circular well once used to measure the water levels of the Nile, and a small pool where sacred crocodiles were kept.
Crocodile Museum
Located within the temple complex, the Crocodile Museum is a small but worthwhile attraction. It opened in 2012 and houses twenty-two mummified crocodiles that were discovered nearby. They are displayed lying in the sand, just as they would have been in ancient times. The longest crocodile mummy is 14 feet long. The museum also displays crocodile eggs, wooden sarcophagi, and statues of the crocodile-headed god Sobek.