Temples along the Nile River

The temple of the sun god Horus at Edfu. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Edfu Temple. This is the temple of the sun god Horus who is represented by a falcon. The temple was begun by Ptolemy III in 237 B.C. and completed by 57 B.C. Ptolemy is portrayed repeatedly on the temple walls.

The Ptolemies were generally favorable to the Jews, whereas the Seleucids of Syria treated them unkindly during the period between the testaments. Ptolemy and Seleucus were generals of Alexander the Great who succeeded him in these area.