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edfu pylon

Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt. The Pylon was erected by Ptolemy IX (116-107 BC) before he was ousted from power by his brother Alexander (Ptolemy X Alexander I 107-88 BC), who was later usurped by another ruler (Ptolemy IX Soter II 88-80 BC), for its exterior reliefs show Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos (80-58 BC) smiting foes before Horus the Elder.

The entrance pylons and the peristyle court and were added, and finally completed in the reign of Ptolemy XII, the father of the last Cleopatra (Cleopatra VII 51-30 BC).

Unusually, the twin towers of the great entrance pylon of the temple were planned as perfect mirror images of each other, both in their construction and in the rather curiously rendered scenes carved on their surfaces. Two statues of Horus as a falcon flank the entrance gate, and behind the pylon, at the base of the walls on either side of the entrance, are scenes depicting the 'Feast of the Beautiful Meeting' in which Horus of Edfu was united with Hathor of Dendera.


Gateway through pylon looking up at the roof of the pylon gateway


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