Abydos

Abydos, the holiest of Egyptian towns:

Abydos, the cult center of Osiris, god of the dead, was regarded as the holiest of Egyptian towns in Pharaonic times. All ancient Egyptians tried to make the pilgrimage to the town during their lifetime or hoped to be buried here.

Many tombs were painted with scenes of the deceased making the posthumous journey to Abydos. Tradition had it that Osiris – or at least his head – was laid to rest here after he was murdered by his brother Seth and his mutilated body strewn over the country.

Abydos was once a vast walled town with several ancient cemeteries, lakes, and temples, including the important Temple of Osiris.

Today, almost all that can be seen is the stunning 19th-Dynasty Cenotaph Temple of Seti I. Built during Seti I’s reign between 1294-1279 BC, it is one of the most intact temples in Egypt.

Constructed using white limestone, this secondary mortuary temple possesses some of the finest bas-reliefs of the New Kingdom; many have retained their original color.

After the death of his father, Ramses II (1279-1213 BC) built his own temple to the north of Seti’s temple. Although only partially intact, it is noted for its interesting hieroglyphs.

The entrance to the temple is gained via the first hypostyle hall. The temple’s highlights include the bas-relief scenes in the second hypostyle hall, which show Seti I with the gods Osiris and Horns.

Just beyond, the seven chapels dedicated to a deified Seti I and the gods Ptah, Ra-Harakhty, Amun, Osiris, Isis, and Horns are remarkable for their colored reliefs and delicate decoration.

Each chapel contained the statue and barque of the relevant god and would be served daily by the high priests. Behind the temple, Seti had built the Osirieon (the tomb of Osiris) from huge blocks of stone. Today it is partly underwater.