Temple of Edfu is located on the west bank of the Nile in Edfu, It is one of the best preserved shrines in Egypt. Edfu was one of several temples built during the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC. The building was started during the reign of Ptolemy III,which have been completed in 57 BC in Ptolemy XII reign .The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt. In particular, the Temple's inscribed building texts "provide details [both] of its construction, and also preserve information about the mythical interpretation of this and all other temples as the Island of Creation. inscriptional evidence has been found indicating a building program under the New Kingdom rulers Ramesses I, Seti I and Ramesses II.A naos of Nectanebo II, a relic from an earlier building, is preserved in the inner sanctuary, which stands alone while the temple's barque sanctuary is surrounded by nine chapels. ." There are also "important scenes and inscriptions of the Sacred Drama which related the age-old conflict between Horus and Seth.They are translated by the Edfu-Project.
The temple of Edfu fell into disuse as a religious temple after Theodosius I's persecution of pagans and he issued a decree banning the worship of non-Christians. As is the case in other places, Many of the temple's inscriptions were destroyed by followers of the Christian faith . The blackened ceiling of the hypostyle hall, visible today, is believed to be the result of arson intended to destroy religious imagery that was then considered pagan..
Throughout the ages., the temple became buried to a depth of 12 metres beneath drifting desert sand and layers of river silt deposited by the Nile. Local inhabitants built homes directly over the former temple grounds. Only the upper reaches of the temple pylons were visible by 1798, when the temple was identified . In 1860 Auguste Mariette, a Egyptologist, began the work of freeing Edfu temple from the sands.
Edfu Temple is remains largely intactand a greet example of an ancient Egyptian temple it access to the temple was revamped with the addition of a visitor center and paved carpark. A lighting system was added in late 2006 to allow night visits. and Its archaeological significance and high state of preservation have made it a center for tourism in Egypt and a frequent stop for the many riverboats that cruise the Nile. In 2005,
