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The Cult Temple of Khnum at Esna
| Location: | Esna, south of Luxor |
| Construction: | Graeco-Roman period |
| Dedication | |
| Main Temple: | Khnum |
| Chapels: | Neith, Heka and others |
Esna is located about 33 miles south of Luxor. The town's Greek name was Latopolis and it was here that fish (lates) were thought to embody the goddess Neith, who was sacred to the area. Esna was increasingly important during Dynasty XVIII due to Egypt's developing relationship with the Sudan - there was a route established between Esna and Derr. Later, the city slowly declined until it received renewed interest during Dynasty XXVI. Later, under the Greeks and Romans, it became the capital of the Third Nome of Upper Egypt.
Today, Esna is a sleepy merchant and farming townon the west bank of the Nile with a considerable weaving industry and animal market. On the covered market street, one may purchase fabric or even have the fabrics made into clothes. There are some fine old houses with fine brickwork and mashrbiyya screens. There is also a river barrage just outside of town which was built in 1906. About 4 miles southwest of town is the Deir Manaos Wa al-Shuhada (Monastery of the Three Thousand Six Hundred Martyrs), whose 10th century church is said to be one of the most beautiful in Upper Egypt. It is possible that this monastery is a lasting commemorative to Emperor Decius (249-51 AD) who decreed that all Christians would suffer death if they did not sacrifice to the pagan gods. His cartouche was the last to be carved in Egypt and can be seen on the walls of the Temple of Khnum in Esna.
The main attraction in Esna is the Temple of Khnum, which lies beneath the level of the modern town, in a pit. All that remains of the temple is the Great Hypostyle Hall; the surrounding ruins of the ancient complex and city have yet to be excavated due to the modern housing built on the site. The temple sits atop the ruins of earlier temple(s); this was not the first temple here as a temple was consecrated here during the reign of Thuthmosis III. Khnum was the ram-headed god who was worshipped through out this area and who fashioned mankind from mud of the Nile on his potter's wheel. He was associated with other gods, including Menhyt (his consort), Nebtu (the goddess of the countryside) and Heka (the manifestation of vital energy).
Near the Temple of Khnum on the stone quay along the Corniche are carved cartouches of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
The roof is still intact, supported by 24 columns decorated with a series of text recording hymns to Khnum and relating the annual sacred festivals of Esna with scenes illustrating the surrounding countryside. The sacred festivals are the creation of the universe by Neith, the raising of the sky by Khnum, and his victory over the human rebels. These texts were done between the Graeco-Roman period and the rule of Decius in 250 AD, but were never finished. There are 16 different palm and plant capitals on the columns, still with some colour remaining. The west wall of the Temple of Khnum is all that remains of the original Ptolemaic temple and has reliefs of Ptolemy VI and Philometor and Euergetes II.
Follow this link to view Esna photo gallery
Follow this link to view a plan of the temple