Temple of Amada

Egypt’s Temple of Amada is a must-see.

Amada Temple: The building of this temple started during the reigns of Pharaoh Thutmose III (XVIIIth Dynasty) and his son Amenhotep II (Amenhotep II), and it is often regarded as the earliest temple in all of Nubia. Its builders, Thutmose III and Amenhotep II appear in practically all of the scenes that decorate the structure, including a little protozoic colonnade that is part of the original floor and has columns with 24 light grooves, which is part of the original floor.

Thutmose IV afterward added to the portico, or Hypostyle Room, twelve pilasters that were united in the side rows with inter-column walls, on which we can see the cartouches or seals of each prince, which were added by Thutmose III. A pylon in front of the chamber, of which only the entrance survives today, was built by Seti I later on, and Ramses II also left some modest renovations, which were largely devoted to the décor of the Temple.

The Copts converted the temple into a church during the early centuries of Christianity, as shown by the remnants of an adobe dome that can be seen on the same terrace as the temple.

The Temple is in exceptional condition, as shown by the large number and diversity of paintings in the hieroglyphics, as well as the clarity of the features of the characters’ faces and bodies. It is one of the most intriguing places to visit in Nubia as a result of this characteristic.

The best bas-reliefs can be found in the innermost part of the temple, such as Thutmose III and Amenophis II embracing or making offerings to various Egyptian gods (in the left part of the hall), or Amenophis II being crowned by Horus and Tot (in the right part of the hall) and then running with an oar and a hap (navigation instrument) during the Thirst Festival.

In particular, the two most significant historical inscriptions found there are worth highlighting. In the first, dated in the third year of Amen-Hotep II, a portrayal of the wine offering that the pharaoh, Amenophis II, gave to the gods Ra-Horajti and Amon on the holy solar boat can be discovered underneath the image of the pharaoh, Ramses II.

There is a detailed description of the military war that was carried out in Asia, as well as how the pharaoh transported and then hanged six dead chiefs on the walls of Thebes, and a seventh on the walls of Napata, after their deaths (Nubian border city near the fourth waterfall of the Nile). This was done to send a strong message to the Nubians about the potentially deadly repercussions of rebelling under their rule.

The second sentence, which can be seen at the entry gate, refers to the rejection of the invasion of Libya in the fourth year of Merenptah and is inscribed on the gate.

To complete the construction of the Aswan Dam between 1964 and 1975, the temple was relocated 2.5 kilometers away from its original position and elevated to around 65 meters above sea level, keeping it from being swamped by the waters of the Nasser River.