“the Lord of the Two Lands,” were honored as well at
Kom Ombo.
A double entrance is in the southwest, leading to a
courtyard. Two HYPOSTYLE HALLS, offering halls, twin
sanctuaries, magazines, vestibules, wells, and birth
houses, called MAMMISI,compose the elements of the tem-
ple. The main temple is Ptolemaic in its present form,
with a gate fashioned by PTOLEMY XIIAuletes (r. 80–58,
55–51 B.C.E.). Niches and crypts were also included, and
mummies of CROCODILES were found, wearing golden
earrings, manicures, and gilded nails. A NILOMETERwas
installed at Kom Ombo, and CALENDARSand portraits of
the Ptolemys adorned the walls.
Konosso A high-water island, dating to the Eighteenth
Dynasty (1550–1307 B.C.E.), it was a staging point for
TRADEand expeditions to NUBIA(modern Sudan). An
inscription of TUTHMOSIS IV (r. 1401–1391 B.C.E.) at
Konosso gives an account of the site’s purpose.
Koptos (Gebtu, Kabet, Qift) This was a site south of
QENA, called Gebtu or Kabet by the Egyptians and Koptos
by the Greeks, serving as the capital of the fifth nome of
Upper Egypt and as a center for trade expeditions to the
Red Sea. Koptos was also the cult center of the god MIN
(1). Min shared a temple with the goddess ISIS. Three
pylons and a processional way that led to a gate erected by
TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.) were part of the tem-
ple design. HORUSwas also honored in this temple, span-
ning Egypt’s history. PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHUS(r. 285–246
B.C.E.) added to the temple, as did PTOLEMY IV PHILOPATOR
(r. 221–205 B.C.E.). An original temple on the site had
been erected and adorned by AMENEMHET I(r. 1991–1962
B.C.E.) and SENWOSRET I(r. 1971–1926 B.C.E.). A chapel of
the god OSIRISdates to the reign of Amasis (570–526
B.C.E.). A middle temple has additions made by OSORKON
II(r. 883–855 B.C.E.). A temple that was discovered in the
southern area of Koptos was refurbished by NECTANEBO II
(r. 360–343 B.C.E.). CLEOPATRA VII(r. 51–30 B.C.E.) and
PTOLEMY XVCaesarion (r. 44–30 B.C.E.) also constructed a
small chapel on the site. This chapel was used as an ora-
cle. Koptos also had gold mines and quarries, being
located near the WADI HAMMAMAT.
Koptos Decree This was a document from the Sixth
Dynasty, in the reign of PEPI I(2289–2255 B.C.E.). Found
in the temple of MIN(1) at Koptos, the Decree grants
immunity from taxes for all residents of the mortuary
chapel for Pepi I’s royal mother, Queen IPUT. This chapel
was connected to Min’s temple. The personnel of Queen
Iput’s (2) cult were also freed from the responsibility of
paying for the travel of officials and the visit of any royal
retinues. Such tax-exemption decrees were frequent in
many periods, particularly for complexes concerned with
mortuary cults.
Korosko This is a site in NUBIA, modern Sudan, located
between the first and second cataracts of the Nile. An
inscription there from the 29th year of AMENEMHET I(r.
1991–1962 B.C.E.) of the Twelfth Dynasty describes how
the people of Wawat, the name for that area of the Nile,
were defeated by the pharaoh’s army.Kula, el- A site on the western shore of the Nile, north-
west of HIERAKONPOLISand ELKAB. The remains of an Old
Kingdom (2575–2134 B.C.E.) step PYRAMIDwere discov-
ered there, without the usual complex structures. No
identification of the pyramid has been possible to date.Kurgus A site at the fifth cataract in NUBIA(modern
Sudan), conquered by TUTHMOSIS I(r. 1504–1492 B.C.E.)
and maintained by TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.),
Kurgus has a carved inscription designating it as Egypt’s
southern boundary. The city was involved in an overland
TRADEroute through WADI ALAKI.Kurigalzu (1)(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) King of Kassite
Babylon during the Amarna Period of Egypt
He was noted in the ’AMARNAcorrespondence as receiving
gold as a gift from AMENHOTEP III(1391–1353 B.C.E.).
Kurigalzu aided Egyptian ambitions on the Mediter-
ranean coast.Kurigalzu (2)(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) King of Kassite
Babylon in the reign of Akhenaten
He attacked the Elamites in the neighboring region and
captured their capital of Susa, destroying Egypt’s imperial
structures in the area. Kurigalzu was reported in the
’AMARNA LETTERS.Kuser A port on the Red Sea, also called Sewew, Kuser
was located to the east of KOPTOSand was used exten-
sively by the Egyptians. A shipbuilding industry pros-
pered there, as Kuser was a staging point for maritime
expeditions to PUNTin many eras of the nation’s history,
particularly in the New Kingdom (1550–1070 B.C.E.).Kush See NUBIA.kyphi This was the Greek form of the Egyptian kapet,a
popular incense or perfume of ancient Egypt, composed
of many ingredients. The formulas varied considerably
and were mentioned in medical texts. Kyphi was also
used as a freshener for the air and clothes (even though
the formulas included at times the excrement of animals).
As a mouthwash it could be mixed with wine. Kyphiwas
sometimes used as incense in the Ptolemaic Period
(304–30 B.C.E.), and formulas were discovered on the
walls of the EDFUand PHILAEtemples.kyphi 207