David Roberts was in the Middle East 1838-9. He left London on 21 August 1838, arrived at Alexandria on 24 September, and then travelled up the Nile to the Second Cataract, beginning his return down the Nile on 11 November. He was at Kom Ombo on 28 October and again, on his way back, on 21 November when this drawing was done. As he wrote in his journal, 'I made two coloured sketches of this glorious ruin and, in the afternoon, having set my palette, made an oil study of the whole with the sun setting' (Sim, op.cit., p.143).
Kom Ombo (or Koum Ombos), the 'Hill of Ombos', is a small hill some 115 miles up stream from Luxor. Under the Ptolemys it became the capital of a nome, and the twin sanctuary of Sobk and Haroêris dates from this period with additions made under the Romans. Partly covered by sand at the time of Robert's visit, the site was cleared in 1893.