Temple of Kom Ombo

Kom Ombo is an Egyptian twin temple on the Nile riverbank in Aswan Governorate, built with two mirrored halves that each have their own entrance, sanctuary and columned halls. One half honors the falcon-headed Haroeris while the other is dedicated to the crocodile-headed Sobek.

The site was built between 180 and 47 BCE during Ptolemaic rule and combines traditional Egyptian construction with Hellenistic influences. Later Roman emperors expanded the complex and added new elements.

The twin structure takes its name from the nearby hill and displays wall carvings showing surgical tools and treatments that reveal medical practices of that era. Visitors today can examine these carved images and see how healing work was carried out in ancient Egypt.

The ruins sit around 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Aswan right beside the river and are reachable by car or boat. Visitors should plan at least an hour to walk through the sprawling complex and bring comfortable shoes.

A nilometer built into the outer wall allowed priests to measure water levels and predict floods. In a separate room, mummified crocodiles are stored that once lived in the nearby river and were honored as sacred animals.

Location: Aswan Governorate

Elevation above the sea: 95 m

GPS coordinates: 24.45194,32.92806

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:24