Hibis Temple

Hibis Temple, once a part of the ancient capital Hebet in Kharga Oasis, Egypt, is situated amid a palm grove about 2 kilometers north of El-Kharga. This temple is renowned as the largest and best-preserved temple of its era in the oasis, offering a glimpse into the historical significance of the region.

The ancient town of Hebet, covering approximately 1 square kilometer, now lies mostly buried beneath modern cultivation. However, early 20th-century excavations, led by Herbert Winlock of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, uncovered a few mudbrick houses with vaulted ceilings and fresco paintings at the town’s outskirts.

The exact duration of Hebet’s status as the oasis’s capital remains unclear. Recent explorations have unearthed a cemetery at the site, dating back to the Second Intermediate Period and New Kingdom, indicating a long period of occupation. Additionally, investigations south of the temple revealed that buildings from the Christian era, dating to around AD 350, were destroyed by a significant fire.

The earliest surviving sections of Hibis Temple trace back to the reign of the Persian ruler Darius I. However, it is likely that the temple’s construction began during the reigns of Dynasty XXVI pharaohs Psamtek II, Apries, and Amasis II or on the site of an even earlier structure whose foundations were discovered by Winlock.

Hibis Temple, dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun-Re, Mut, and Khons, was embellished by Darius I, and possibly Darius II, with later additions by Nectanebo II and the Ptolemies. During the 4th century AD, a Christian church was constructed on the temple’s northern side.

Nectanebo I and Nectanebo II enclosed the temple within a stone enclosure wall, and visitors now approach it through a series of gateways leading to the inner sections. A sphinx-lined avenue ran west from a quay on the lake’s edge along a paved processional route, which was attributed to an official named Hermeias during the 3rd century AD.

A massive sandstone gateway, part of an outer enclosure wall, stands nearly 5 meters tall and dates to the Ptolemaic or Roman periods. It bears numerous inscriptions and decrees, providing insights into Roman governance in the oasis. Inside the gateway are the bases of two obelisks or colossal statues.

The inner enclosure wall, constructed during Dynasty XXX, encloses a monumental kiosk or colonnade with eight columns, facing the main part of the temple. The wide span of the kiosk (7.4 meters) required wooden beams to support the roof, and the composite capitals on the columns are the earliest known examples in Egypt. Although believed to be built by Nectanebo I, only Nectanebo II’s cartouches remain on the decoration.

Hakor (Achoris) of Dynasty XXIX added a larger hypostyle hall to the original temple, replacing the traditional pillared courtyard. This expansion led to reinforcement of the foundations and buttressing of the west wall, as the original structure had faced a collapse soon after construction.

The hypostyle hall houses 12 palm-columns of an early composite type, with the columns at the front opening onto a narrow courtyard. Beyond the hypostyle hall is an early-style pronaos with four smooth papyrus columns and screen walls, likely similar in style to the temple of Shoshenq I at el-Hiba. Behind it lies the earlier hypostyle hall, containing four columns, an offering chamber, sanctuary, and a chapel dedicated to the deified king at the rear. Stairs lead to the roof, which contains a complex of cult chambers devoted to Osiris.

Hibis Temple stands out as a remarkable example of a Persian Period temple in Egypt, with its well-preserved reliefs, thanks to centuries of burial in sand. The temple features rich religious iconography and theological texts, often depicted in a unique style that reflects local artistic influences.

One notable and unique wall relief portrays a winged figure of Seth, the god of the desert oases, with a falcon’s head, painted blue—an unusual color typically reserved for air deities. In this depiction, Seth battles the serpent Apophis. The sanctuary also honors numerous deities, including Min, another desert god.

A complete wooden codex from Hibis, dating to around AD 246-249, was discovered and is now held at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. The codex, written in Greek, contains a list of names and accounts and a report by a government official detailing a survey of water sources in the oasis.

Throughout the 20th century, Hibis Temple underwent sporadic excavation and restoration efforts. The rising subterranean water level, caused by nearby irrigation projects, threatened the temple’s structural integrity, leading to the declaration of its closure to the public in 1989. In 2000, a large-scale salvage operation was initiated but proved unsatisfactory, and it was postponed. Instead, ongoing restoration efforts at the temple’s current location aim to protect and preserve this invaluable historical site.

Scholars have conducted extensive studies of the temple’s texts and graffiti, shedding light on its historical and religious significance. These efforts continue to contribute to our understanding of Hibis Temple and its place in Egypt’s rich history.