Temple of Debod

The Temple of Debod is an ancient Egyptian temple which has been rebuilt in Madrid, Spain. The temple was built in southern Egypt, very close to the first cataract of the Nile and to the great religious center dedicated to the goddess Isis, in Philae. In the early 2nd century BC, Adikhalamani [Tabriqo], king of the country of Meroë, started its construction by building a small chapel dedicated to the gods Amon and Isis. Afterwards, different kings of the Ptolemaic dynasty added new chambers around the original nucleus. The Roman emperors Augustus, Tiberius, and perhaps Hadrian, completed its construction and decoration.

In 1960, due to the construction of the Great Dam of Aswan and the consequent threat it posed to certain monuments and archeological sites, UNESCO made an international call to save this rich historical patrimony. As a sign of gratitude for the help provided by Spain in saving the temples of Abu Simbel, the Egyptian state donated the temple to Spain in 1968.

It has been rebuilt in one of the most beautiful parks in Madrid. Rebuilt on the site of a former army barracks near Madrid's Campo de Moro and Parque del Oeste, the temple was opened to the public in 1972. It constitutes one of the few works of ancient Egyptian architecture which can be seen outside Egypt and the only one of its kind in Spain.