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Egypt is considered one of the safest countries not only in the Arab world but in the world because Egypt has one of the strongest security services. The Egyptian government is interested in taking all the necessary safety measures to secure tourist trips in Egypt, so you do not have to worry about that at all.
Yes, the Grand Egyptian Museum is officially open for visitors. Come and explore the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic treasures, from the majestic statues to the dazzling artifacts of ancient Egypt. Your unforgettable journey into history starts here.
In the case of cancellation of the trip by the customer, based on the start dates of the trip, the following costs will be charged:
15% of the total cost of the trip, with cancellation from the booking date up to 61 days before the start date of the trip
25% of the total cost of the trip, with cancellation from 60 to 31 days before the start date of the trip
35% of the total cost of the trip, with cancellation 30 to 15 days before the start date of the trip
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The temple of Khnum in the city of Esna, south of Luxor. It is the only one remaining in its state of the ancient temples of Esna, which exceeded the number 4 and is considered one of the most important tourist destinations for its uniqueness.
Information About the Khnum Temple in Esna
Located about 50 km south of Luxor, Esna can easily be visited on a day trip. Along with visits to this temple, most Nile cruises between Aswan and Luxor also stop at Edfu and Kom Ombo. The souk, which spans two streets, and the Temple of Khnum, which was built during the Ptolemaic era, are the two primary tourist destinations in Esna.
The construction of the Temple of Khanum began under Ptolemy VIII and was completed during the Roman period in Egypt, under the command of Claudius and later Marcus Aurelius. The temple is built on land 10 m lower than the rest of the city, and there is a considerable part of the temple that is still buried.
The city of Esna is little more than a farming settlement. The primary landmark in the city is the Temple of Khnum. One of the final temples constructed in Egypt is the Temple of Esna. Similar to Dendera, it was constructed during the Greco-Roman era, when foreign emperors tried to win over the Egyptians.
The Temple of Esna is dedicated primarily to two deities, the goddess Neith and the god Khnum, the ram-headed god. Esna was "Latopolis," the capital of the 2nd nome of Upper Egypt. The goddess Neith is the mother of the god Sobek, goddess of war and hunting, and wife of the god Khnum, the creator god among creators in Egyptian mythology.
Despite its relatively young age, the temple is not in a good state of preservation, probably due to the poor quality materials and the speed of construction employed by the Romans in order to hurry to prove their loyalty to the Egyptian gods. The hypostyle hall still stands, built in the 3rd century AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius. It has 24 columns and measures 33 meters long and 16 meters wide.
The facade of the temple is very similar to that of the temple of Hathor in Dendera, but the columns, which still preserve their polychromy, are the columns that represent the most late Egyptian art. Late Egyptian art is characterized by the ornaments of date palms, bouquets of lotuses, papyrus, and the vine with its bunches of grapes. This art reflects the entire wealth of the countryside and the environment where the temple is located. Following the abundance of the temple for many years, the temple was reidentified as a Christian church after the edict of Theodosius in 380 AD.
Due to its position on a fairly low ground, the temple was covered by sandy accumulations and various debris. Now, it is erected in a pit more than 9 meters deep; this is the depth of the sands accumulated during 15 centuries and on which a modern city is founded. A small part of the temple is visible, while more remarkable excavations are not possible due to the displacement of a considerable part of the current city.
