Kom Ombo

Kom Ombo stands as one of Egypt's most fascinating ancient sites, located about 50 kilometers north of Aswan along the Nile River. This unique temple is dedicated to two gods simultaneously - Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed god - making it essentially a double temple with symmetrical halves.

What makes Kom Ombo particularly interesting is its collection of medical instruments carved into the walls, suggesting it may have been an early medical center. Visitors can see depictions of surgical tools that look surprisingly modern, giving insight into ancient Egyptian medical practices.

The temple was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty between 180-47 BCE, though some parts date to Roman times. Its location on a bend in the Nile made it a strategic stop for traders, and today it continues to draw visitors traveling between Luxor and Aswan.

Next to the temple, there's a small museum housing mummified crocodiles found in the area - a testament to the worship of Sobek. The temple offers stunning views of the Nile, especially at sunset when the golden light illuminates the ancient sandstone. Despite suffering damage over centuries, the remaining structures and reliefs tell fascinating stories of ancient Egyptian religious practices and daily life along the Nile.