The Temple of Dendur

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Felix S - Wake Forest University
History of The Temple
- Commissioned by Roman Emperor Augustus c.15 BC
- Built by Petronius, governor of Egypt
- Dedicated to Egyptian gods and sons of local Nubian Chief
- Moved to NYC from its original location in 1965

The Temple of Dendur at its original location at Kalabsha on the Nile River.
Design and Architecture
- Built by Romans according to Egyptian
religious/architectural tradition
- Tall gateway in front
- Temple consists of column flanked
entrance hall (pronaos)
- Two smaller interior ritual
chambers
- Small chamber cut into rock
face behind the temple
- Main structure measures
approx. 43 x 21 x 16 ft
- Size comparable to most
temples of the type
- Constructed from local
Nubian sandstone
Dedication and Significance
- Primarily dedicated to the goddess Isis, whose main temple was located 50 miles
to the North of Dendur, as well as her husband Osiris and son Horus
- Also honors 2 deified local brothers, Pedesi and Pihor, whose tomb may have
been the small chamber cut into the rock behind the temple
- As the temple stood in Nubia South of Egyptian border, the local Nubian gods
Mandulis and Arsenuphis are among the deities worshipped there

A view through the gate into the inner sanctuary of the Temple.
Rituals at Dendur
- Temples seen as residences of the deities worshipped there
- Daily rituals would be performed in the interior chambers
- Offerings to the gods included food, beverages, and the burning of incense
- During religious festivals, icons of the gods and other deities would be put on
display for the public on the terrace in front

The temple’s outer terrace on the riverbank overlooking the Nile.

Relief Artwork
- The interior and exterior of the temple are covered in sunken and raised reliefs
respectively, which would have been brightly painted
- Reliefs portray ritual scenes including Isis, her husband Osiris and son Horus
- Emperor Augustus as well as brothers Pedesi and Pihor are shown making offerings
- Deities are shown holding an ankh, the sign of life and prosperity, and bestowing it
upon those worshipping at the temple

Relief showing Augustus as Pharaoh making offerings of milk and incense. Such scenes showed his commitment to local
traditions and helped confirm his legitimacy as ruler.