Sleep temples were built specifically for dream incubation and were open to everyone who believed in the temple gods. The most famous gods and goddess who were related to dreams in the New Kingdom were Meret-Sedgr, Thoth, Bes, and Isis. In the Greco-Roman Period, the primary deities were Hathor, Serapis, Isis, and Defied Imhotep (Æsclipios). In the Greco- Roman period, sleep temples were well known as centers of great healing, or sanatoriums (large therapeutic center during Greco-Roman period attached to temples). They were dedicated to the healing god Æsclepius, who took over the role of Imhotep. Temples have been found in Saqqara, Dendera, Abydos, Edfu, and Philae. While, the temple of Amun at Siwa was not recorded as a sleep temple in Ancient Egypt, it was known as “the Oracle temple”. “Oracle” in Ancient Egypt is the broad umbrella term that includes oracle, prophecy, and dream incubation. The earliest evidence of dream incubation dates back to a Ramesside stele. The best known example of dream incubation is that of the wife of Kha-m-was, the son of Rameses II. She asked the help of the goddess Mrt-Sdgr to achieve her wish of getting pregnant, in addition to the help of Sekhmet. Dream incubation was one of the important healing methods in Ancient Egypt. It was believed that dreams could serve as oracles, bringing messages from gods. To achieve this, individuals would often go through rituals of cleansing and fasting. ~ excerpt Dream Incubation Tourism: The Resurrection of Ancient Egyptian Heritage of Sleep Temples, by Engy El-Kilany and Islam Elgammal . . ✨ 🔥Art by unknown (at Vedic Shastras) https://www.instagram.com/p/CazuIvPBh6y/?utm_medium=tumblr















