In the Parque de la Montaña de Madrid is located one of the most beloved great treasures of the capital of Spain: the temple of Debod. Located to the west of the Plaza de España, this ancient monument was a gift from Egypt to Spain for its collaboration in the rescue of the Nubian temples on the occasion of the construction of the great Aswan Dam.
A 2.200-year-old temple that has become a symbol of the city. Would you like to get to know this spectacular monument of ancient Egypt better? Don't miss the next post!
Origins of the temple
The construction of the temple was started by the king of Meroe Adijalamani at the beginning of the XNUMXnd century BC. C, which dedicated a chapel decorated with reliefs to the gods Isis and Amun. Later kings of the Ptolemaic dynasty built new outbuildings around the original core. After the Roman Empire annexed Egypt, the emperors Augustus and Tibero completed its construction and decoration.
Transfer to Madrid
Around the 1972th century AD, after the conversion of Nubia to Christianity, the temple was abandoned and remained so until the XNUMXth century when, due to the construction of the Aswan dam, the Egyptian government presented the city of Madrid with the Temple of Debod. In this way it was transported stone by stone and opened to the public in XNUMX after two years of reconstruction. It was a difficult process since, in addition to not having plans, some original stones were lost during the dismantling and transportation.
The reconstruction that was carried out in Madrid maintained the orientation from east to west of its original place. The temple is surrounded by gardens and there are many people who take advantage of the place to walk, have a picnic, play sports or sunbathe on the grass. As a curiosity, the lake that we find around the temple is a memory of the Nile.
Image | Wikimedia Commons
Regarding the interior, it is possible to access at certain times and on its two floors you can find information about Egyptian mythology and society, as well as interesting explanations about the hieroglyphs. In order to learn about its decorative motifs and its history, models, videos and audiovisual projections are exhibited on the walls. The temple has two floors, in the upper one you will see a very interesting model where all the temples that were in Nubia are represented.
During the first decades in which the Temple of Debod was in Madrid, the area was considered unsafe due to certain social problems such as drug addiction. For this reason, not all due care was taken, but for a long time the city council has been doing everything possible to achieve the best conservation of the temple and increase the security of the Mountain Park.
The legend of the Temple of Debod
Legend has it that, at dusk, a cat watches you around the temple. There are those who say that it is the reincarnated King Adijalamani of Meroe. Have you ever felt the presence of this being?
Image of the Temple of Debob while it is dusk
Ticket and opening hours
Admission is free and it is open from Tuesday to Sunday and holidays: from 10:00 a.m. to 20:00 p.m. while it remains closed on Mondays, as well as January 1 and 6, May 1, December 24, 25 and 31. .
What is the best time to visit it?
The best time to go to the Temple of Debod is at sunset, when the sun dyes all its architecture with orange colors. If you are a photography lover, you will have a great time taking beautiful photographs of the temple and the viewpoint of the Mountain Park. In addition, near the Temple of Debod there are also the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral.