Kom Ombo

The town of Kom Ombo was a stop along my 4-day Nile River cruise.

In March of 2023, my wife and I decided to embark on our long-awaited journey through Egypt. 

After a hectic three-day tour of Cairo and Giza, we flew on Egypt Air to Luxor, were whisked away to our cruise ship, Steinberger Minerva, and checked into our fabulous cabin. 

The four-day cruise starts from Luxor and goes up the Nile River to Aswan, stopping at several ports along the way.

After two days in Luxor and a stop at Edfu, we finished the day in Kom Ombo to visit the unique double temple.

The temple was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty, 180–47 BC, and some additions to it were later made during the Roman period.

Interesting Facts: The name Kom Ombo means "the hill of the crocodile".

The temple has two main structures. The southern half was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, God of fertility and creator of the world with Hathor and Khonsu.

While the northern part of the temple was dedicated to the falcon god Horus the Elder, this temple is atypical because everything is perfectly symmetrical along the main axis. 

The temples of Kom Ombo are a stunning example of ancient Egyptian architecture, with their well-preserved columns, walls adorned with intricate carvings, and impressive hieroglyphics. 

Interesting Facts: The ancient Egyptians worshipped crocodiles, and Kom Ombo was considered a sacred site for crocodile worship. 

Kom Ombo is located on the banks of the Nile River, and the temple offers panoramic views of the river and its surrounding landscape. 

The picturesque setting allows one to appreciate the region’s natural beauty and take stunning photos.

Within the temple complex, there is a crocodile museum that houses mummified crocodiles, which were considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians. The museum highlights twenty-two crocodile mummies, crocodile eggs, wooden sarcophagi, and crocodile fetuses.