Egyptian Temple in the Græco-Roman Period

The Egyptian temples did not differ much in the Graeco-roman period, except in few details

The construction of the temples for the Egyptian deities was the way the Ptolemies took to legitimize their rule

The Roman emperors are figured on the temples as Pharaohs

a pathway that follows the traditional Egyptian quay

It replaces the earlier Avenue of the Sphinxes. The Dromos is paved with limestone or granite blocks with no side statues.

2-The Propylon :

gateway leading to the façade of the temple

In some cases, the temple had both a propylon and the traditional pylon.

3-The Pronaos:

is a great hall lying before the sanctuary It is characterized by its prominence, rich decorations, floral capitals and the screen walls between columns in the façade of the pronaos rising to the half of the columns.

4-Wabet Room:

It is a mere chamber lying close to the sanctuary, preceded by an open-air court to celebrate the new year.

5-The Naos:

is a sort of a small shrine placed in the holy of the holies, where the most sacred image of the god was kept

6-The Columns:

A column consists of a base, a shaft, and a capital.

The most common types of columns are:

the palmiform columns: decorated with forms of palm fronds.

the Lotiform columns: decorated with a ribbed shaft to imitate the form of stems, with a closed or opened lotus flowers.

the Papyriform columns: representing papyrus plant.

the coniform columns: provided with a fluted shaft with capital representing the shape of a conifer tree.

the Campaniform columns: representing different open flowers.

the Osiride columns: they are made in the form of Osirian statues.

the Hathoric columns: the capitals have the shape of the head of Hathor as a cow, or the shape of the Sistrum the musical instrument.

Besiform is a type of columns, in which the abaci of the columns are decorated with the form of the god Bes.

7-Surrounding Tunnels:

around the inner parts of the temple

8-The Mammisi:

is the "birth house

Its function is to celebrate the birth of the god of the temple

to emphasize the relation between the Ptolemaic king and the Egyptian gods

The most preserved is the Mammisi built by Augustus at Dendera.

an entrance leading to a vestibule, a hall with columns supporting the roof and ends with a sanctuary.

The walls bear scenes of the birth of the child god including

9-The Nilometer :

to measure the range of the water of the Nile and thus predicting the flood.

are provided with steps descending down to the water.

The Daily Rituals

the king was the only person allowed to enter the sanctuary. However, practically, the king used to appoint a certain representative of him to do the rituals before the god on his behalf

The high priest was responsible for providing the god with his daily needs three times a day: in the morning, at twilight and at night.

opened the holy sanctuary of the god, entered it carrying food and drink, removed the clothing worn by the god's statue, cleaned the statue by washing it with water and natron, and redressed it with new linen clothes and jewelry.

The Daily Rituals

Other ranks of priests worked under the command of the high priest.

It was forbidden that they go further in the temple, and only priests according to their ranks would be allowed inside the temple halls.

During the major festivals of the temple's god, the statue of the god lying in the sanctuary was carried inside a ceremonial shrine in a boat by the priests throughout
the temple.