About
The Osireion is an ancient Egyptian temple in Abydos, Egypt. It was there during the Middle Kingdom period, around 2400 BCE. The temple belongs to Osiris, the god of the afterlife and the underworld.
The temple features several underground chambers, which was there for rituals and ceremonies related to the afterlife. The Osireion is famous ford to its intricate carvings and reliefs, which depict scenes from Egyptian mythology and daily life.Visitors can explore the temple’s many chambers and corridors, admire its beautiful carvings, and learn about the history and culture of ancient Egypt.
History
Above this city [Ptolemaïs] lies Abydus, where is the Memnonium, a royal building, which is a remarkable structure built of solid stone, and of the same workmanship as that which I ascribed to the Labyrinth, though not multiplex; and also a fountain which lies at a great depth, so that one descends to it down vaulted galleries made of monoliths of surprising size and workmanship.
Ismandes, or Mandes constructed the Osireion , the same purported builder as with the Labyrinth at Hawara:
But if, as they say, Memnon is called Ismandes by the Egyptians, the Labyrinth might be a Memnonium, and the work of the same person who constructed those at Abydos and at Thebes; for in those places, it is said, are some Memnonia.
Strabo’s uncertainty about the origins of the structure highly suggests that these were already unknown by the time of his visit. Fortunately, the EES excavations uncovered its identity. “Menmaatre [Seti I] is Benefical to Osiris” was the name given to the subterranean structure. Graffiti by Egyptian priests of Dynasties XXI-XXII found in the long Entrance Passage, the vaulted galleries mentioned by Strabo, hint at its function. “The hidden/secret place of the Underworld/Duat of Menmaatre [Seti I]” and more specifically and revealing as the “Birth House of Isis”
Conclusion
The Osireion is one of the most important temples in Egypt and is a popular tourist destination. Visitors can explore the temple’s many chambers and corridors, admire its beautiful carvings, and learn about the history and culture of ancient Egypt.
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