Temple

   The site of worship for a deity or a series of deities located in each Egyptian center. During the New Kingdom and later, a major temple consisted of a pylon in front of an open courtyard followed by a hypostyle or columned hall and then a series of rooms leading to the naos, or sacred shrine, in which the image of the deity was contained. The general public was admitted only to the first courtyard, and only the priests and officials were granted access to the rest of the building. It was believed that for stability to be maintained, the sacred rituals had to be carried out daily. These ceremonies consisted of waking the deity in his or her shrine, clothing the image, and offering food regularly. The image might be carried into the courtyard or out of the temple on festive days on a sacred boat or barque. The temple also contained royal and private statuary, as the king and officials would hope that their names might be read by the priests, thus they would become immortal. Religious worship was not confined to the main temples but also took place more directly between supplicant and deity at various small local shrines. Mortuary temples for deceased rulers were initially associated with the burial site but during the New Kingdom were located some distance away.

   See also Pyramid; Religion.

Historical Dictionary Of Ancient Egypt by Morris L. Bierbrier