Some Thoughts on Epstein's Temple and the meanings behind the Icons and Symbols.
Could this be some sort of Dionysian temple? The seated figures on each side of the temple remind me of Greek sculptures of Dionysian, holding grapes in the air.
I know may have thought the perched figures in the corners of the temple are owls but the more I look at the pictures the less they looked like owls but they seemed familiar. Then it dawned on me that perhaps they are hooded falcons, and if they are, then there is a ton of digging to do.
Peregrine Falcon Native to Egypt
"The peregrine falcon, which is native to Egypt, is capable of not only complex in-flight manoeuvres, but has also been clocked at the fastest speed of any other bird. Poetry found on a pottery fragment near ancient Cairo honoured the sun god Ra in his representation as a falcon."
Hoodwinked comes from Falconry
We use it to mean "to deceive," but Webster notes that the word also means "to blind by covering the eyes." The falconer must hoodwink his falcon. In the beginning of training, the bird rides hooded on his owner's arm. The hood allows the bird to adjust to the sound of his owner without being frightened by the sight of him. Later the hood is removed and even the noise of many people does not intimidate the bird.
Resources:
http:// lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVarticles/DontBeHoodwinked.html