Temple of Taffeh

The Temple of Taffeh (Arabic: معبد طافا) is an ancient Egyptian temple which was presented to the Netherlands for its help in contributing to the historical preservation of Egyptian antiquities in the 1960s during the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia. The temple was built of sandstone between 25 BCE and 14 CE during the rule of the Roman emperor Augustus.[1][2] It was part of the Roman fortress known as Taphis[1] and measures 6.5 by 8 metres (21 ft × 26 ft).[3] The north temple's "two front columns are formed by square pillars with engaged columns" on its four sides.[3] The rear wall of the temple interior features a statue niche.

The Temple of Taffeh in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (Leiden, the Netherlands).

In 1960, in relation to the construction of the Aswan High Dam and the consequent threat posed by its reservoir to numerous monuments and archeological sites in Nubia[4] such as the temple of Abu Simbel, UNESCO made an international call to save these sites.[5][6] In gratitude, Egypt assigned several monuments to the countries that replied to this plea in a significant way, including the Netherlands.[7] Adolf Klasens, the director of the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden and a Dutch Egyptologist[8] played a part in arranging the agreement where Egypt presented the temple of Taffeh to the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden, the Netherlands.[9]

This building is constructed from 657 blocks weighing approximately 250 tons.[10] After arriving in the Netherlands in 1979,[2] it was reconstructed in a new wing of the National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) in Leiden. The new structure was designed in such a way that the Dutch weather would not affect the stone, that natural light would illuminate the temple and that visitors could see the temple before having to pay for admission.[11] There was also an effort to replace a minimum number of damaged stones.

A Greek inscription and a Christian cross remain carved into its walls.[12]

See also

The four temples donated to countries assisting the relocation are:

References
  1. "Temple of Taffeh". Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  2. "Tempel van Taffeh als blijk van dank". Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  3. Dieter Arnold, Temples of the Last Pharaohs, Oxford University Press, 1999. p.240
  4. The Rescue of Nubian Monuments and Sites, UNESCO
  5. Time Magazine. "The Pharaoh & the Flood, Friday, Apr. 12, 1963". Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  6. Monuments of Nubia-International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia World Heritage Committee, UNESCO
  7. "Unesco". Portal.unesco.org. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  8. "Adolph Klasens bio". Saqqara.nl. Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  9. Daniel Soliman, "The Temple of Taffeh: Crossroads of Cultures." In: Fantini, E., Nijzink, L. (2023), Nile Pop, in Bridging Humanities, Leiden, Brill, available at: https://nilepop.bridginghumanities.com
  10. Schrijver, Elka (1979). "The Netherlands". The Burlington Magazine. 121 (915): 402–399. JSTOR 879668.
  11. "48 Hours In: Leiden, Netherlands". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 19, 2008. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  12. "Sacred destinations". Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands: Sacred destinations. Archived from the original on 2005-12-28. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
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