Sitting proudly on the Nile's banks, the Kom Ombo temple is definitely Kom Ombo's main attraction; it is a great Greco-Roman ancient structure. Mutually opposed is its symmetry; it has two entrances and two sanctuaries, one dedicated to Sobek, the other to Horus. The temple's very existence epitomizes duality; that is, life and the intertwining forces of ancient Egyptian mythology.
Visitors can enjoy this temple to relish in its reliefs, essentially well preserved, depicting scenes of daily life, the gods, and medical practices. Complementing the temple's history, it was in use under the Ptolemies and Romans alike. The exquisite depiction of surgical instruments forms the primary highlight, giving Kom Ombo Temple not only an archaeological rarity but such a monumental place for medical history.
Moreover, the city houses the Crocodile Museum, literally dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god. In the ancient Egyptian culture, the crocodile was sacred, and the mummies of crocodiles as well as other paraphernalia regarding the god are displayed in a museum. The museum thus reveals to viewers the relationship that existed between the crocodiles in the Nile and the ancient Egyptians.
Set on the Nile river plains, Kom Ombo offers an interesting scenery and melds an ancient, deep historical backdrop with an embryonic modern Egyptian life in it. Orcasibly known for his brother twindeity temple to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed deity, Kom Ombo straddles a distance of 50 kilometers, northwest of Aswan. This uniqueness marks Kom Ombowith an interesting aura, attracting tourists and historians alike.
As much as Kom Ombo is known for its ancient past, with some nostalgia, it is at the same time a living town accentuating the thrilling local culture of Egypt. The town includes a friendly community, while one can indulge with the sights and sounds of local life with a host of ambience. The markets bustling with activity, offering fresh fruits, spices, and crafts to bring a little piece of Egyptian culture home for the buyers, are a highlight.
