<P> The most important part of the temple was the sanctuary , which typically contained a cult image , a statue of its god . The rooms outside the sanctuary grew larger and more elaborate over time , so that temples evolved from small shrines in the late Predynastic Period ( late fourth millennium BC ) to large stone edifices in the New Kingdom ( c. 1550 -- 1070 BC ) and later . These edifices are among the largest and most enduring examples of Egyptian architecture , with their elements arranged and decorated according to complex patterns of religious symbolism . Their typical design consisted of a series of enclosed halls , open courts , and entrance pylons aligned along the path used for festival processions . Beyond the temple proper was an outer wall enclosing a wide variety of secondary buildings . </P>
<P> The most important part of the temple was the sanctuary , which typically contained a cult image , a statue of its god . The rooms outside the sanctuary grew larger and more elaborate over time , so that temples evolved from small shrines in the late Predynastic Period ( late fourth millennium BC ) to large stone edifices in the New Kingdom ( c. 1550 -- 1070 BC ) and later . These edifices are among the largest and most enduring examples of Egyptian architecture , with their elements arranged and decorated according to complex patterns of religious symbolism . Their typical design consisted of a series of enclosed halls , open courts , and entrance pylons aligned along the path used for festival processions . Beyond the temple proper was an outer wall enclosing a wide variety of secondary buildings . </P>
what were statues in a temple called ancient egypt
what were statues in a temple called ancient egypt
cult image
cult image