Ancient Egypt

The Temple of Dendur: Roman Egypt Preserved in Manhattan

Maya M. Tola 2 October 2025 min Read

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The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut in Egypt

Built around 15 BCE, the Temple of Dendur honored both Roman authority in Egypt and local Nubian traditions, blending imperial politics with regional reverence. Though modest in scale, it has become unexpectedly iconic in modern times thanks to its transcontinental journey from the Nile to New York. Now housed at The Met, it stands as an accessible piece of ancient history that connects Egyptian enthusiasts across centuries and continents.

Temple of Dendur: View of the Temple of Dendur, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA. — View of the Temple of Dendur, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA.

Architecture and Design

Dendur’s architecture is simple but elegant. Built from Nubian sandstone, the temple reflects both durability and the materials available in the region where it originated. Its layout includes an open-air courtyard, a small columned portico, and a central sanctuary where rituals and offerings were once held. The design blends the traditional Egyptian temple structure with Roman stylistic touches, showing how cultures overlapped during that time. Even though the temple is modest in size, its symmetry and carved details give it a quiet sense of grandeur that still resonates today.

Temple of Dendur: Carvings of Emperor Augustus making offerings to Egyptian gods, Temple of Dendur, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA. Photograph by the author. — Carvings of Emperor Augustus making offerings to Egyptian gods, Temple of Dendur, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA. Photograph by the author.

Carvings and Iconography

The carvings on Dendur’s walls tell a layered story. Emperor Augustus is shown as a pharaoh making offerings to Egyptian gods, a visual way to assert Roman legitimacy in a familiar religious setting. Prominent figures like Isis, Osiris, and Harpocrates appear throughout, alongside scenes of agriculture, ritual, and daily life. The style reflects late Ptolemaic traditions with Roman-era touches, illustrating how artistic and cultural influences blended during this period.

Relocation and Preservation

In the 1960s, the construction of the Aswan High Dam put many ancient sites at risk, including Dendur. Rising waters threatened to submerge the temple, prompting an international campaign led by UNESCO to save the Nubian monum ents. As part of this effort, Egypt gifted Dendur to the United States in recognition of its support. The temple was carefully dismantled, shipped block by block to New York, and reassembled at The Met in a climate-controlled gallery. This move preserved Dendur’s structure and made it accessible to visitors from around the world.

Temple of Dendur: Construction of the Temple of Dendur Wing, 1974, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA. — Construction of the Temple of Dendur Wing, 1974, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA.

Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum

The Temple of Dendur was officially awarded to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on April 28, 1967, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The temple was opened to the public on September 27, 1978. It was installed in the museum’s Sackler Wing, where a reflecting pool helps evoke the feeling of the Nile. Today, Dendur is one of the most beloved pieces in The Met’s Egyptian collection. Visitors can walk through the temple, study its carvings up close, and experience the space as it was meant to be. It continues to be a highlight for museum-goers and a rare opportunity to connect with ancient history in a modern setting.

Temple of Dendur: View of the Temple of Dendur, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA. Photograph by the author. — View of the Temple of Dendur, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA. Photograph by the author.

Legacy and Significance

Dendur stands as a rare example of an intact ancient temple outside Egypt. Its preservation and relocation reflect a moment of international cooperation in protecting cultural heritage. From its origins in Nubia to its current home in New York, Dendur bridges the ancient and modern worlds. It continues to inspire awe and curiosity in millions of visitors each year, serving as a living testament to the depth, resilience, and continuing intrigue of Egyptian civilization.

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Maya M. Tola

Maya Tola is a Dallas-based attorney, with a zest for art history. A time traveler at heart, Maya often finds herself consumed in the contemplation of life in antiquity. She has been sharing her infectious enthusiasm for art and history since 2018 through her posts and articles for the DailyArt App and DailyArt Magazine. When she's not working or writing, you'll find Maya obsessing over plants, animals, and food (in no particular order).

ProofreaderElizabeth Provost

Elizabeth Provost is a visual arts journalist, editor, and scholar of the Italian Renaissance based in New York City and Toronto. She is a PhD student at the Bard Graduate Center. Learn more about her on her website: www.elizabethprovost.com