- Temple of Taffeh
The Temple of Taffeh is an Ancient Egyptian
temple which was presented to theNetherland s for its help in contributing to the historical preservation of Egyptian antiquities in the 1960's. The temple was built of sandstone between 0-100 AD on the orders of the Roman emperorAugustus . [ [http://www.siteclx.nl/rmo/index.php/do-collection/language-en/sub-egyptischetempel Rijksmuseum page describing the temple] ] It was part of the Roman fortress known as Taphis. [ [http://www.unostamps.nl/subject_save_nubia.htm UNO Stamps] ] It is now located in theRijksmuseum van Oudheden inLeiden , theNetherlands .In 1960, due to the construction of the Great Dam of Aswan and the consequent threat posed to several monuments and archeological sites in Nubia such as the temple of
Abu Simbel ,UNESCO made an international call to save these sites. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,828111-2,00.html Time Magazine article, The Pharaoh & the Flood, Friday, Apr. 12, 1963] ] In gratitude, Egypt assigned several monuments to the countries that replied to this plea in a significant way, including the Netherlands. [ [http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=24168&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Unesco] ] Adolf Klasens, the director of the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden and a Dutch Egyptologist [ [http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/saqqara/Exploration/Personal_Profiles.html Adolph Klasens bio] ] played a part in arranging the agreement.The building is constructed from 657 blocks weighing approximately 250 tons. [ [http://www.jstor.org/pss/879668 The Burlington Magazine, Vol. 121, No. 915 (Jun., 1979), pp. 402-399] ] After arriving in 1971, it was reconstructed in a new wing of the National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) in Leiden, Netherlands. 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. [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-hours-in/48-hours-in-leiden-netherlands-523843.html 48 hours in Leiden] ] There was also an effort to replace a minimum number of damaged stones.
Greek inscriptions and a Christian cross remain carved into its walls. [ [http://www.sacred-destinations.com/netherlands/leiden-museum-of-antiquities.htm Sacred destinations] ]
ee also
*
Temple of Dendur
*Temple of Debod References
External links
* [http://www.siteclx.nl/rmo/index.php/do-collection/language-en/sub-egyptischetempel Official Site]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.