A Good Day at the Edfu Temple

We arrived at Edfu temple, about 60 miles north of Aswan, just after sunrise. The air was clean and it seemed that some how the sun was peaking through every corner of the temple. Before we entered the temple we took the standard tourist photos. As everyone posed for photos, the Silver Fox gracefully slide up to two Japanese tourists posing for a photo. He put his arm around them and smiled. They laughed and gleefully took their picture with him, always a kidder that Silver Fox.

I later learned that the temple had been brilliantly designed so that the sunlight could reach each corner of the temple. No electricity required to bring in the sunshine, just proper design.

 Edufu was also designed so that the King could see out but nobody could see into his temple. They have also found a tunnel under the temple that leads straight to the Nile. What a wonderful escape route if needed.

 As I explored the temple I branched off from the tour to follow a Bedouin man. As gatekeepers of the temples they often engage the tourist, for a small fee. It was interesting to have him point out the characters engraved on the temple walls. We walked up and down stairs. I peeked through a locked gate and wished we could stand outside. Quietly he produced a key and silently unlocked the gate for me. It was interesting to stand on the second floor of the Edfu temple, although I realized that for safety reasons it did make a lot of sense not to have large number of tourists stand on a crumbing balcony.

I sat outside the temple for awhile, soaking in the sunshine and marveling at the wonder of all the Egyptian people had created. When a kind man wished me good morning in Arabic I knew it really was a good morning.

People surprise you if you let them.
People amaze you if you let them.

Dec 22, 2008 | Categories: Egypt | Tags: Bedouin, Edfu, Temple, Travel | Leave A Comment »