Devoted to Osiris, lord of the underworld, judge of the dead, and one of ancient Egypt’s most important deities, Abydos stands eerie against the empty desert. The spectacular Temple of Seti I pays tribute to one of Egypt’s greatest kings with images of his journey into the afterlife and a gallery lined with portraits of pharaohs. The underground Osireion continues to puzzle archaeologists.
Most Abydos tours depart from Luxor and many include a stop at Dendera, known for its spectacular temple of the love goddess Hathor.
Abydos sits in the desert about a 105-mile (169-kilometer) drive northwest of Luxor: a visit to Dendera involves only a tiny detour, so most tours stop here along the way. There’s no public transport so it’s worth booking a tour or a private driver.
Abydos is open from morning until mid-afternoon all year round and is rarely crowded. The site is large; during summer, visit early in the morning or later in the day to avoid too much walking in the heat.
Also written Osireon and Osirion, and known in ancient times as the Fountain of Abydos, the Osireion is believed to be a ritual tomb where Osiris underwent death and rebirth. It descends in vast slabs of rocks down to an underground lake and moat, fed by the Nile, and includes astronomical ceilings and decorated chambers. Some archaeologists believe it is even older than the temples; others believe it dates, like them, to around 1300 BC.
