The temple of Esna, of the Graeco-Roman period, was dedicated primarily to the ram god Khnum.
The compact, well-preserved building is only part of the original temple, its hypostyle hall. One descends nine meters from the present street level to reach the original pavement of the temple. This is because the modern city has gradually risen upon layers of older constructions and debris.
Like most Ptolemaic and Roman temples in Egypt; it was constructed over many years, under the reigns of successive rulers. The earliest inscriptions are by Ptolemy VI, Philometor and Ptolemy VIll, Euergetes Il (145 B.C.). The hypostyle itself dates from the first century A.D. (Claudius and Vespasian). Trajan and Hadrian are also mentioned. The most recent texts are from the middle of the third century A.D. These are considered among the latest inscriptions written in hieroglyphic script.
Numerous religious texts refer to the local version of creation by the god Khnum. Others deal with yearly festivals that were celebrated in the temple. Eighteen columns with floral capitals, each of different design, support the roof of the hypostyle. The ceiling bears celestial decorations of vultures with outstretched wings aswell as astronomical themes.