About Abydos Temple of Seti I

Abydos is a holy city with religious significance, located on the border between the valley and the desert to the west of the Nile, approximately 40 miles west of Dendera. From the Predynastic times, Abydos Temple of Seti I became very famous burial ground of the ancient kings of Egypt. An important religious center particularly with Osiris, the “Lord of Abydos”, that celebrated the mysteries annually.

The impressive artistic temple of Seti 1 at Abydos is a mortuary temple. Pharoah Seti began the construction of this temple which was completed by his son and successor Ramses II.  As a result, Ramses II got the opportunity to demonstrate his piety.  Built of fine white limestone, this temple stands as one of the most impressive religious and artistic structures in Egypt.

The temple of Seti 1 could be approached through its outer courts, being the first temple in Egypt to have incorporated these structures.  There is also mud brick storage annexes that are grouped around a stone entrance hall along the way. The access to the temple proper is up a long flight of 42 shallow stairs.

At the rear of the temple, from south to north there are seven sanctuaries which were dedicated to Seti I, Ptah, Re-Horakhty, Osiris, Amun, Isis, and Horus respectively.  The status of each god was almost certainly situated in their respective chambers. Each chapel seems to be fairly similar to each other which is decorated with rituals associated with various festivals related to these gods.

Seti’s Tomb

In the chapel which was dedicated to Seti I, Seti is born into the sanctuary from the left, preceded by a semi-priest who is wearing the panther skin. Next, the king is brought into the presence of the gods who acknowledge and bless him. Three more chapels found mostly on its northern wall are dedicated to Horus, Seti I and Isis, from front to back. The walls of these chambers are also highly decorated. Although Seti I built this structure, it was his grandson, Merenptah, who was responsible for its decorative theme. Seti himself was buried in the Valley of the Kings.

The transverse halls were located nearest to the temple of  Seti I. These were built of limestone with a roof that was made up of sandstone cut in the shape of a pent roof. The decorations that were made consisted of astronomical and funerary text stood at either end of the main hall.

Abydos Egypt Map