Temple of Ellesyia, Ancient rock-cut temple near Qasr Ibrim, Egypt
The Temple of Ellesyia is a rock-cut shrine with a corridor and two side chambers carved directly into stone, with walls decorated with offering scenes to Egyptian and Nubian gods. The structure is built from sandstone and has a straightforward layout that guides visitors from entrance to inner sanctuary.
Pharaoh Thutmosis III built this sandstone temple during the 18th dynasty and dedicated it to the gods Amun, Horus, and Satis. In later centuries it was adapted by early Christians, who carved their own religious symbols over the original temple scenes.
The temple walls show religious scenes and hieroglyphic text that reveal how people worshipped their gods in this sacred space. These images give you a sense of the rituals and ceremonies that took place at this location.
The original site sits in a remote location along the Nile, but the temple has been relocated and can now be seen at the Museo Egizio in Turin. Visiting in Turin offers much easier access than reaching the original riverbank setting.
Christian crosses and pentagrams were carved directly over the original Egyptian images, preserving two different religious worlds in the same space. Visitors today can see how these overlapping beliefs coexist on the walls, creating a visual record of changing faiths.
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