Temple of Amada

Temple of Amada, Egypt

Temple of Amada: Its construction began during the time of Pharaoh Thutmose III (XVIIIth Dynasty) and his son Amenhotep II (Amenhotep II) and is considered the oldest temple in Nubia. Its creators, Thutmose III and Amenhotep II appear in almost all the scenes that adorn the building, including the small protozoic colonnade that is part of the original floor with columns of 24 light grooves.

Later, Thutmose IV added to the portico, or Hypostyle Room, twelve pilasters joined in the side rows with inter-column walls where we can see the cartouches or seals of each of the princes. Later, Seti I placed a pylon in front of the room, of which only the door remains and Ramses II also left some minor restorations, mostly dedicated to the decoration of the Temple.

During the first centuries of Christianity, the temple was transformed into a church by the Copts, a detail that can be seen in the ruins of an adobe dome located on the same terrace.

The state of conservation of the Temple is extraordinary, proof of this is the quantity and variety of paintings in the hieroglyphics and the definition of the details of the figures. Because of this aspect, it is one of the most interesting to visit in Nubia.

It is in the innermost part of the temple where we can see the best bas-reliefs, such as Thutmose III and Amenophis II embracing or making offerings to various Egyptian gods or Amenophis II crowned by Horus and Tot (left part of the hall) and then running with an oar and a hap (navigation instrument) at the Thirst Festival.

The two most important historical inscriptions inside are worth noting. The first, dated in the third year of Amen-Hotep II, is found below the representation of the wine offering that the pharaoh, Amenophis II, made to the gods Ra-Horajti and Amon on the sacred solar boat.

It describes the military campaign carried out in Asia and how the pharaoh transported and then hung six of the dead chiefs on the walls of Thebes and the seventh on the walls of Napata (Nubian border city near the fourth waterfall of the Nile). This was done as a clear warning to the Nubians of the dangerous consequences of rebellion during their reign.

The second text is found at the entrance gate and mentions the rejection of the invasion of Libya in the 4th year of Merenptah.

Due to the project of building the Aswan Dam, between 1964 and 1975, the temple was moved 2.5km from its original location and raised to about 65m, thus preventing it from being flooded by the waters of the Nasser.