On the east and west sides of it (Offering Table Hall) there is a staircase by which it is possible to rise and set: this god will ascend (to the temple roof) via the Eastern Stairway, together with his Uraeus-snake, the Great One, in order to see his sun-disk (in the sky), and with His Divine Ennead following Him in order to unite with His ba’a spirit (the sun) on the day of the New Year Festival, after having descended and entered His temple chamber, by the staircase on the west side, accompanied by his great Uraeus-snake, the Mistress of Dendera, and his Divine Ennead, each one in his place, having returned satisfied and taken his place in his horizon (temple) thus fulfilling his circuit, together with them (his fellow gods), and for eternity. The flight of stairs on the west side measures 60 by 2 cubit. The eastern stairway measures 10 by 8; it has a small door in it. There is a room to the right of it, measuring 10 by 9, into which the flight of stairs on the right leads.
The Great Building Inscription of the Edfu Temple (Dieter Kurth, 2004)
About the Eastern Stairway
This staircase leads from the Offering Table Hall to the roof of the temple, where the rites of the Opening of the Year – Wapat Ranapat were performed. The living statue of the god Horus was carried in procession with the other divine statues of his Ennead at the temple to see the sun at dawn of the opening of the year. Once rites are performed, the divine statues are again carried in procession down the western stairway with Hathor in her form of the uraeus and all are returned to their shrines. The eastern stairway measures 15 feet (5.334 m) by 12 feet (4.267 m). Inscribed on the walls are images of priests and the Pharaoh carrying the divine statues to the roof for the Wapat Ranapat rites.
