Additional Remarks on the Purification Iconography at the Graeco-Roman Temples of Upper Egypt

Abstract

IntroductionThere is a particular characteristic that all the kings of the Ptolemaic dynasty and many Roman rulers share, they performed ritual and religious responsibilities that an Egyptian king was supposed to accomplish, namely constructing, renovating, and adorning sanctuaries, chapels, and religious temples 1 . Consequently, there are still numerous divine temples built or decorated by them as, Dendera, Edfu, Kom-Ombo and Phila.The scheme of heavenly buildings demonstrated the rulers' appreciation of traditional Egyptian religious activities while projecting an image of their own supremacy in Egypt. Accordingly, the administrative dominance of Egypt by those foreigners was supported by clever and effective use of the artistic symbolism of Egyptian temples as an adaptive system that affiliated them with the local political heritage 2 .