Ancient Egyptian Temples
Temple at Edfu
The Function/Objective of The TempleThe Egyptian temple is the link, the proportional mean, between the macrocosmos (world) and microcosmos (man). It was a stage on which meetings were enacted between the neter (god) and the king, as a representative of the people. Therefore, we must forego viewing the temple as an art gallery and/or an interplay of forms against a vague historical, archeological presentation. Instead, we must try to see it as the relationship between form and function.
The Egyptian temple was a machine for generating and maintaining divine energy for the benefit of one and all. It was the place in which the cosmic energy, neter (god) came to dwell and radiate its energy to the land and people.
As described in various Ancient Egyptian texts, the temple or pylon is:
…as the pillars of heaven, [a temple] like the heavens, abiding upon their four pillars … shining like the horizon of heaven … a place of rest for the lord of neteru [gods], made like his throne that is in heaven …like Ra when he rises in the horizon … like Atum’s great house of heaven.
The harmonious power of the temple plans, the images engraved on the walls, and the forms of worship—all led to the same goal; a goal that was both spiritual, as it involved setting superhuman forces in motion, and practical, in that the final awaited result was the maintenance of the country’s prosperity.
An Egyptian temple was not a place of public worship. It was the shrine for the neter, who represented some specific aspect of the One God. Only the priesthood had access to the inner sanctuaries, where the sacred rites and ceremonies were performed. In some instances, only the King himself or his authorized substitute had permission to enter.
The general public participated in the many great festivals and celebrations held in honor of the various deities. [For more information, see Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of the Way, by Moustafa Gadalla.]
Layout of the Temples The choice of location and design peculiarities of a temple were not based on economical considerations, but rather on a deeper knowledge of the macrocosmos.
Great temples were not built quickly, or by one king alone. Such temples were built over the years, by successive kings.
In general, the Egyptian temple was surrounded by a massive wall of mud-brick.
| This wall isolated the temple from its surroundings which, symbolically, represented the forces of chaos. Metaphorically, the mud resulted from the union of heaven and earth. The brick wall itself was therefore set in wavy courses to symbolize the primeval waters, representing the first stage of creation.
The exterior walls of the temple resembled a fortress, so as to defend it against all forms of evil. The temple was entered through two pylons, beyond which lay an open court. This court sometimes had colonnades along the sides and an altar in the middle. Next, along the temple axis, came the hypostyle, a pillared hall often surrounded by small rooms which are used for the storage of temple equipment and for other secondary functions. Finally, there was the sanctuary, which was a dark room containing the shrine, where the figure of the neter was placed. The sanctuary’s doors were shut and sealed all year long, and were open only for the great festivals. The sanctuary was called the “Great Seat”. Outside the walls of the temple were the residences of the priestly staff, the workshops, storerooms, and other ancillary structures. |
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Symbolism on the Walls
The walls of the Egyptian temple were covered with animated images—including hieroglyphs—to facilitate the communication between the microcosmos and the macrocosmos. The inscriptions and illustrations on the temple walls have private meanings known only to certain enlightened people. The carvings were of ritualistic value.
The following are observations of some wall scenes:
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- A figure with two right hands signifies an active role such as offering something. Consequently, a figure with two left hands signifies a passive role such as receiving something.
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