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Roman empire was based on the general design of new kingdom temples, which had a pylon gate,
a hypostyle hall, a pronaos and a sanctuary (naos). It is possible it became important for the
temple to conform to this general design as well (Wilkinson 2007, 24-65).
Interpretation of the temple
Function and context
The final design of the temple was similar to the design of traditional Egyptian temples from the
new kingdom. The materials that were used in building the temple were also traditionally used in
temples before the Graeco-Roman period. The temple was expanded over time and was not
designed according to the standard temple design from the beginning. This standard design
includes a gate, an outer court, a hypostyle hall, a pronaos and a sanctuary. Only the sanctuary was
present at the first building stage of this temple, it was located in the Augustan temple. This
temple did have additional rooms, but these have not all been identified. These rooms include the
wabet and the new year’s court. It is possible rooms functioning as a pronaos and hypostyle hall
were present also, but could not be identified anymore. The only part added to the temple that
does not confirm to this general temple design is the lateral chapel, which possibly functioned as a
mammisi. The mammisi was a feature only seen from the Graeco-Roman period onwards in
Egyptian temples.
The temple had an important location as it was located between two major cult sites, Koptos and
Thebes. Koptos influenced the temple the most because of its increased importance during the
Roman period.
The temple was probably built by local initiative and was likely important to travellers of the
eastern desert routes leading to the red sea port. The reason behind this theory are the scenes
depicted on the outer walls of the temple. The depicted scenes involve the raising of the pole
ceremony and are quite unique. Such scenes can only be found in two other temples of the Roman
period in Egypt. The ceremony of the raising of the pole is related to the god Min, who protected
the eastern desert roads at which this temple is located.