Accession Number1991/1.107
TitleTemple of Horus at Edfu
Artist(s)Antonio BeatoArtist NationalityBritish (modern)Object Creation Datecirca 1860-1870Medium & Supportalbumen print on paperDimensions 8 1/16 in x 10 3/8 in (20.48 cm x 26.35 cm);16 in x 20 in (40.64 cm x 50.8 cm);11 7/16 in x 15 in (29.05 cm x 38.1 cm)
Credit LineGift of W. Howard and Margaret BondSubject matterAs with many of Beato's photographs of Egyptian archaeological sites, this image depicts the Temple at Edfu from a slight oblique angle, which dramatizes the scale and significance of the building within the larger complex visible behind and below it. The deceptively simple viewpoint serves both aesthetic and informational functions: it simultaneously conveys the appearance and three-dimensionality of the structure, while taking advantage of raking light to render visible the carved motifs and inscriptions on the surface of the building. These particularly well-preserved carvings refer to the god Horus to whom the temple is dedicated.
Physical DescriptionEgyptian temple decorated with carved motifs seen from a slight oblique angle.
Primary Object ClassificationPhotographCollection AreaPhotographyRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Keywords
Egypt
Ruins
Temple of Horus
ancient sites
archaeological parks
architecture (object genre)
mythology
pylons
relief
religious buildings
temples (institutions)
tower
travel photography