TEMPLES,USES ANDTYPES
Traditional African religious temples are places
where Heaven, Earth, and underworld converge.
For example, the early temples of the Nile valley
were composed of stone and referred to asakhet,
“the radiant place.” They were timeless images
and backdrops for the celebration of spirituality.
The ancients perceived temples not only as a con-
structed symbol of the cosmos, but as a symbol
of the “first time” of creation. As priests entered
the temple, they ascended gradually, passing
through the columns’ replica of a papyrus plants
forest. The floor rose toward the sanctuary and
was roofed by a replica of the constellations or
the divine Nut, goddess of heavens. The floor led
from the symbolic outermost edge of the uni-
verse to the innermost sanctuary, the symbolic
center of the universe where the primeval mound
stood, the hill on which Amen-Ra stood to bring
the world into existence and to create order and
stability.
Generally speaking, within the sacred space of
African temples, creation happened again, disorder
was eliminated, and then order was renewed. Also,
within the space, moral values and spiritual rela-
tionships were reaffirmed. Temples in Africa were
more than symbolic; often Africans used them
extensively for various rites and ceremonies. They
provided a place and passage for rites, elevating the
child to adult, the human to king or queen, and
the mortal to immortal. Also, they contributed to
the deification of leaders, male or female.Temples, Uses and Types 659The view of one of the oldest temples dedicated to a divinity in the world.The temple of Edfu that was devoted to Heru is seen
in this photo.
Source: Molefi Kete Asante and Ama Mazama.