Temple of Debod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Temple of Debod |
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| Native name Spanish: Templo de Debod |
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| Location | Madrid, Spain |
| Built | 200 BC |
| Rebuilt | 1970-1972 |
| Architectural style(s) | Ancient Egyptian architecture Ancient Nubian |
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Invalid designation
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| Official name: Templo de Debod | |
| Type | nonmovable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 2008 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0012074 |
The Temple of Debod (Spanish: Templo de Debod) is an ancient Egyptian temple that was moved from Egypt to Spain. It was originally built in Nubia, a region along the Nile River.
This special temple was taken apart and rebuilt in the center of Madrid, Spain. You can find it in a park called Parque de la Montaña.
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History of the Temple
The Temple of Debod was first built about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Aswan in Nubia. This was very close to the first big bend in the Nile River and a major religious place dedicated to the goddess Isis.
Around 200 BC, a king named Adikhalamani from the ancient kingdom of Meroë started building it. He built a small room, like a chapel, for the god Amun.
Later, during the time of the Ptolemaic dynasty (Greek rulers of Egypt), the temple got bigger. Kings like Ptolemy VI, Ptolemy VIII, and Ptolemy XII added more parts. It became a small temple, about 12 by 15 metres (39 ft × 49 ft), dedicated to Isis.
Even later, the Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius finished making it larger.
Temple Design
The temple used to have a long path leading from the river. This path went through three stone gateways before reaching the temple itself.
The front part of the temple, which had four columns, fell down in 1868 and is now gone. Behind this was the original room for the god Amun. There was also a room for offerings and other side rooms. Stairs led up to the roof.
Why the Temple Moved
In 1960, a huge dam called the Aswan High Dam was being built in Egypt. This dam would create a large lake that would flood many ancient monuments and historical sites in Nubia.
To save these important places, UNESCO (a part of the United Nations) asked for help from countries around the world. Spain helped a lot in saving the famous Abu Simbel temples.
Because Spain helped so much, the Egyptian government gave the Temple of Debod to Spain in 1968 as a thank-you gift.
The Temple in Madrid
The temple was carefully taken apart, stone by stone, and shipped to Spain. It was then rebuilt in a park in Madrid called Parque del Oeste. It opened to visitors in 1972.
When it was rebuilt, the gateways were put in a slightly different order than they were in Egypt. The Temple of Debod is one of the very few ancient Egyptian buildings you can see outside of Egypt. It's the only one like it in Spain.
Recently, experts have suggested that the temple should be covered to protect it from the weather. In 2020, the city council in Madrid agreed to make plans to cover the monument. This will help keep it safe for many more years.
Other Temples Moved from Egypt
In Spanish: Templo de Debod para niños The Temple of Debod is one of four temples that Egypt gave to countries that helped save its monuments. The other three are:
- Temple of Dendur in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, United States.
- Temple of Taffeh in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden, the Netherlands.
- Temple of Ellesyia in the Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy.
