Temple of Hibis

The hallway with pylons, leading to the hypostyle hall

The Temple of Hibis is the largest and best preserved ancient Egyptian temple in the Kharga Oasis, as well as the only structure in Egypt dating to the Saite-Persian period (664–404 BCE) which has come down to modern times in relatively good condition. Located about 2 km north of Kharga,[1] it was devoted to a syncretism of two local forms of the deity Amun: "Amun of Hibis" and "Amun-Ra of Karnak who dwells in Hibis".[2]

It is alternatively believed to be dedicated to Amun and Osiris, its sanctuary contains depictions of hundreds of Egyptian deities.[3]

  1. ^ Wilkinson, Richard H. (2000). The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt. New York: Thames & Hudson. p. 236. ISBN 0-500-05100-3.
  2. ^ Cruz-Uribe, Eugene (1999). "Kharga Oasis, Late period and Graeco-Roman sites". In A. Bard, Cathryn (ed.). Encyclopedia of Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. London and New York: Routledge. p. 488. ISBN 0-203-98283-5.
  3. ^ Strudwick, Helen (2006). The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. pp. 94–95. ISBN 978-1-4351-4654-9.