The Sun Temple of Userkaf is a historic temple complex placed at Abu Sir in proximity to Cairo where the Fifth Dynasty, antiquity temples are situated roughly around 25BC centuries old. This structure bore its genesis in the reign of the Fifth Dynasty founder Pharaoh Userkaf who is remembered for starting the solar temple constructions for the worship of Ra the sun god.
The Sun temple of Userkaf was designed according to a more or less standard design practiced for the solar temples within that epoch. An open courtyard, a raised causeway leading to a valley temple and an eastern oriented main temple for worshipping the sun were the constituents of the structure. The temple’s functions included serving as a center for carrying out actions in the form of practices and presents to the sky god Ra for the continuous regeneration and nourishment of the kingship’s spirit.  The Sun Temple had certain unique attributes which included 

1. Valley Temple  

This was built at the border of the Nile floodplain, and the valley temple acted as the way in the enclosure. It had a wharf for holding incense procession boats and was located at the end of a causway reaching the center altar. 

2. Causeway   

The main temple was linked to the valley temple by a raised, portable covered causeway. This raised corridor was etched with images showing religious parades and offerings. 

3. Courtyard  

There was an interior open courtyard around the principal temple in which many rites and ceremonies took place. This courtyard was most likely filled with statues and stelae to both Ra and the pharaoh. 

4.  Main Temple  

 Within the entire framework of the temple, the main temple structure was the more important element and it consisted of many chambers and halls. The temple was so constructed that as the sun rose, the birds eye view rays of sunlight would penetrate to the temple during the summer solstice at the greatest angles. 

5. Altars and Offering Tables