The Temple of Debod: A Magical Journey Through Time

Madrid is not just a European capital but a treasure trove of unimaginable secrets, hiding breathtaking places among its historical masterpieces.

In the middle of its gardens there is the Egyptian Temple of Debod as a piece of Pharaonic history as if it were a gateway through time linking the ancient Egyptian civilization to Spain.

Today, we will learn more details about the temple, so follow us.

History of the Temple of Debod

The Temple of Debod is located in Madrid as if it were a distinctive message from ancient times as it began in Nubia southern Egypt in 1959. With the danger of the Nubian temples being submerged due to the construction of the High Dam Egypt appealed to the world to save this ancient heritage, and Spain was among those countries so Egyptian gratitude came in the form of a complete temple which moved with its stones and history to Madrid in 1970 to become part of it.

Today this place does not seem like just a historical monument but rather an amazing place for any visitor, and a quiet haven amidst the hustle and bustle of the Spanish capital.

When climbing the wide stairs leading to a green hill in West Park the visitor finds himself in front of an incredible scene: two stone gates leading to a Pharaonic temple standing there as if it were a piece of Upper Egypt that settled in Europe.

It also overlooks the city as if it is silently watching it witnessing civilizations throughout time.

Where is the Temple of Debod?

The Temple of Debod was originally located on the banks of the Nile specifically 16 kilometers south of Aswan before making its way to Madrid.

It was not just a stone building, but an archaeological masterpiece that Egypt chose to be one of the most important gifts presented to the world in appreciation of its efforts to save the temples of Nubia.

This temple was dedicated to the worship of the god Amun and the goddess Isis two of the greatest gods in ancient Egyptian civilization.

Its walls were filled with inscriptions telling the story of the rituals and worship that were performed inside it.

Deep inside its sacred sanctuary there was a place dedicated to honoring Ptolemy XIII, so that this temple remains an eternal witness to the greatness of the pharaohs and their influence throughout the ages.

The experience of entering the Temple of Debod

Entering this temple is not just a visit to an archaeological site, but rather a journey through time revealing a rare story of saving an ancient historical landmark.

Touring inside it not only highlights the greatness of the temple, but also shows the power of international cooperation to preserve human heritage. 

Among the unique experiences that visitors can have is watching a documentary film that tells the story of the first Europeans to arrive in Aswan, and how they rediscovered its buried treasures, which have remained a witness to an ancient Egyptian civilization throughout history.

The temple’s journey began in 1960 when Spanish archaeologists began working as part of the International Mission to Rescue Nubian Monuments. The Temple of Debod was carefully dismantled and temporarily transported to Philae Island in Aswan before the fateful decision was made to deport it to Spain in 1968. 

In 1970 its epic journey began, with its massive stones first transported across the Nile to Alexandria from where they were carried by the ship “Benissa” to Valencia to be shipped to Madrid in 1,359 crates containing 1,724 artifacts, with a total weight of 1,000 tons.

Why did Egypt give the Temple of Debod to Spain?

The temple was found in Madrid thanks to an Egyptian decision that was not random, but was based on reasons that made Spain deserving of this historic gift, and the first reason was the great financial support it provided as it allocated more than $ 525,000 to save the Nubian monuments an amount that far exceeded what other countries such as the United Kingdom which contributed only $ 212,926, but money was not everything as the special relationship between Egypt and Spanish scientists played an important role as a team of Spanish experts traveled to Aswan and participated in real efforts to save the temples threatened with drowning.

When the temple made its way to Madrid the temples in Egypt were experiencing real suffering as they were submerged under water for nine months a year which made their visits very limited in contrast the experts in Spain faced various challenges, the most important of which was that many of the artifacts arrived without numbers or accurate documentation which made rebuilding the temple an archaeological puzzle that required a tremendous effort to solve, but despite all the obstacles they succeeded in reviving this great landmark so that today it has become part of Madrid’s cultural identity and an immortal embassy of Egyptian civilization in Europe.

Reviving the Temple of Debod in Madrid

Spanish scientists faced complex challenges while rebuilding the temple as they discovered that more than 400 artifacts were incorrectly marked which required a meticulous effort to rearrange them and replace missing or damaged markings. The goal was not just to restore, but to preserve the temple as much as possible.

To ensure that the temple remained in perfect condition a warm air conditioning system was installed inside its walls to resemble the climate of its original home in Nubia where high temperatures and a specific humidity level preserved the ancient stones. 

But the care was not limited to the interior only, as the hill on which the temple stands in West Park was designed with special care with a water pool surrounding it and palm trees planted in a wonderful attempt to evoke the atmosphere of ancient Egypt and give the temple an environment as close as possible to its original location.

How did Madrid triumph?

Choosing the location of the temple in Spain was not an easy decision but rather a wide controversy surrounded it as major cities such as Barcelona and Valencia competed to obtain this Pharaonic treasure each city saw in the temple an opportunity to enrich its cultural heritage and strengthen its tourist status, but in the end Madrid had the upper hand as its local council provided the largest financial support for the process of transporting the artifacts and also covered the costs of restoration and construction. 

It was not just a matter of hosting a historical monument, but a serious commitment to preserving it which made the Spanish capital win this honor to become today an authentic Egyptian piece sitting in the heart of Madrid. 

The temple has witnessed a large turnout of tourists since its opening to visitors in Madrid in August 1972, and according to statistics issued by Madrid in 2012 this temple is visited by about 300 thousand tourists annually Which means that it is one of the most important tourist attractions in Spain and Madrid is proud to be one of only four cities in the world that has a complete Pharaonic temple as it is only rivaled by Leiden in the Netherlands which has the Temple of Tafa, New York in the United States (Temple of Dendur), and Turin in Italy (Temple of Thutmose III).

Opening of the Temple of Debod in Spain

On July 18, 1972 Madrid witnessed a historic moment with the opening of the temple which has since become an important tourist destination not only for ordinary visitors but for anyone seeking to discover the magic of ancient Egypt without leaving Europe.

It was not just a stone monument, but a cultural gateway that takes visitors on a journey through time to the era of the Pharaohs and the grandeur of Aswan.

Temple of Debod Guide:

How much does it cost to go to the Temple of Debod?

There is no fee to visit the temple.

How old is the Temple of Debod?

2 BC.

When to visit the Temple of Debod?

At sunset.

Finally, in recognition of the historical value of the Temple of Debod the Madrid Local Council responsible for the care of the temple has launched an exhibition detailing its dismantling, transportation and reconstruction along with a display of photos simulating what it looked like in its golden age when it was a sacred religious center.