Temple of Khnum at Esna
The Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum at Esna contains the beautifully preserved Great Hypostyle Hall.
Dedicated to the ram-headed god Khnum (the god of creation) the Temple of Esna construction started during King Tuthmosis III reign during the 18th Dynasty but the temple completed construction during the Ptolemaic period and the Roman period between 40 to 250 A.D. Inscriptions on the temple wall nominate the important figures related to the creation of the Temple of Esna, also known as temple of Khnum. The remains of the Temple of Esna contains a hall of columns with 24 pillars beautifully decorated with lotus floral capitals and palm capitals. The walls are covered with 4 rows of reliefs, showing Ptolemaic and Roman Emperors dressed in Pharaoh costumes, offering sacrifices to the god Khnum. There are chambers on both sides of the temple entrance that were used by the priests and keepers of the temple as storerooms.