page_title: Esna
section_title: Ritual significance
hierarchical_section_title: Esna / Ancient city / Ritual significance
context_page_description: Esna, is a city of Egypt. It is located on the west bank of the Nile some 55 km south of Luxor. The town was formerly part of the modern Qena Governorate, but as of 9/12/2009, it was incorporated into the new Luxor Governorate.
context_section_description: The Temple of Esna conveys a sense of the importance which the Ancient Egyptians placed upon their places of worship. All Egyptians who entered the confines of an Egyptian temple were required "to comply with the strict rules regarding ritual purity." According to inscriptions carved on the walls of the Temple of Esna, those who entered this temple were expected to fastidiously cut their fingernails and toenails, remove other body hair, wash their hands with natron (a natural occurring salt), "be dressed in linen (they were forbidden from wearing wool), and not to have had sexual intercourse for several days."
  Medieval Heritage City 
  Esna enjoys a rich intangible heritage in terms of its unique social structure where the city center is subdivided into spatial domains inhabited by deeply-rooted Esna families, and its traditional crafts – all on the verge of extinction as a life heritage extended since the medieval eras.
  forms of this life heritage is the presence other monuments and buildings of historic significance in Esna from various eras like Wekalet El Geddawy a caravanserai from the ottoman era, was established in the 18th century by the Ottoman Ruler by Hassan El-Geddawy (Ruler of Geddah -KSA) and it was named after him, it represents one of three caravanserais in south of Egypt, and it is the only one that still maintains its unique original design. 
  The Wekala was one of the most important trade centers in South of Egypt in the 18th century with traders from all over Africa coming through the west desert and the red sea, and It now stands as a testament to the strength of trade and the strategic position of Esna as a trade center in the south of Egypt at the time. The building was historically used for the sale of slaves, animals, crops and crafts.
  The historic market is one of a few still standing markets in the south of Egypt and gets its significance from being a local historic market that portrays Esna’s authentic local life. Products sold in the market include home supplies, local crafts and bridal needs.
  El-Amry Minaret is the only remaining part of the historic mosque with the same name which was torn down and rebuilt in the 1960s in a modern style. 
  The Mosque was established between the years 474 & 476 AD on the Islamic Calendar by Badr El Deen Gamaly and it was the first to be built in Esna in the Fatimid Era.  The oil press has belonged to the family of Bakour for over 200 years and it is the only still standing oil press in Esna. Martyrs’ Monastery It was established in the 6th century. 
  The Monastery is of a great significance for Christians since it was established in the age of Christine persecution in Egypt by Saint Helena after a battle between the romans and Coptic Egyptians which lead to the death of 3600 Martyrs.
  The battle was led by the roman emperor Diocletian who started an attack against Christians in Egypt. On the day of the Martyrs’ Massacre, an attack was started that caused the Bishop of the city of Esna “Father Ammonius” to flee with the whole Christian population to the monastery to hide there from the troops of the emperor however they were later found there and killed. 
  The monastery is visited by thousands of Egyptians from all over the country every year due to its significant value. 
  Al-Qīsāriyya Market
  Like any other function that needs a space or built environment, trade, caused the existence of several types of buildings and public open spaces to help facilitate its process in Esna. Historically, the public open space located between Khnum Temple and al-`Amriyya Minaret functioned as Esna's main square – where various historic photos of Esna depicts this area as the city's main marketplace. Wakālat al-Jiddāwī (caravanserai), one of the city's main trading buildings existed on this square as well. And to the north and south of the square, al-Qīsāriyya Street extended -parallel to the Nile River- for a distance of almost 1.5 km. The street is named after Esna's renowned al-Qīsāriyya Market.    
  Qīsāriyyas are an urban market typology that is believed to have existed since the
caption: Twilight over the temple
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