The Temple of Esna is one of Egypt's most unusual attractions. Picture this: in the middle of a bustling provincial town, in a pit 9 meters deep, stands an ancient temple. Around it—a bazaar, residential houses, a mosque. And below—a hypostyle hall with columns two thousand years old.

The Temple in a Pit

Why is the temple so deep? The answer is simple: over millennia, the town's level rose. Each generation built atop the previous one, accumulating meters of cultural layers. The temple remained where it was built, while the city grew above it.

Only part of the temple has been excavated—the hy...