Kom Ombo, Egypt Cruises

Kom Ombo, Egypt Cruise Port

• Started by Ptolemy VI Philometor around 180-47 B.C., the Temple of Kom Ombo is the city's most famous attraction. Dedicated to two gods – both Sobek and Haroeris (the latter represented as a man with a falcon head) – it's set up to "accommodate" both gods, with the inclusion of two courts, halls, sanctuaries, and so on. Although much of the original temple was destroyed by the Nile, earthquakes, and humans, some were restored in 1893 by Jacques de Morgan.
   
• Part of the temple is the Crocodile Museum where you'll find a display of mummified crocodiles, some of which are thousands of years old and fairly large. You'll also find mummified eggs and baby crocs, an example of the mummification process, and a crocodile-shaped sarcophagus.
   
• For another history lesson, visit the shadoof, or irrigation tool, beside Kom Ombo temple. Used by people of Nile River to draw water, the shadoof here is a good example of how people used to take care of their crops in this unforgiving desert climate.
   
• If time permits, take one of the many tours offered along the Nile. Many include the temple, along with sites such as the Great Sphinx and the famous pyramids.