Temple of Derr

The Temple of Derr or el-Derr is a "speos" or rock-cut temple built by pharaoh Ramesses II in Lower Nubia. [Nicolas Grimal, "A History of Ancient Egypt", Blackwell Books, 1992. p.259] It is the only rock-cut temple in Nubia which was constructed by this pharaoh on the right (or east) bank of the Nile and used to stand at el-Derr. [John Baines and Jaromír Málek, "Atlas of Ancient Egypt", Facts on File Publications New York, 1982. p.183] The temple's unique position "was probably due to the fact that the river on its approach to the Korosko bend flows in an 'unnatural' southeasterly direction." [Baines and Málek, op. cit., p.183] The Derr structure was known in ancient times as 'The "Temple of Ri'amsese-meryamun" [Ramesses II] "in the Domain of Re" ' [Baines and Málek, op. cit., p.183] and was dedicated to the god Ra-Horakhty. [Rosalie David, "Discovering Ancient Egypt", Facts on File, 1993. p.104] Scholars disagree over its precise construction date: the French Egyptologist Nicolas Grimal states that it was built in the thirteeth year of Ramesses II, presumably to coincide with his first royal jubilee. [Grimal, "op. cit.", p.259] In contrast, John Baines and Jaromír Málek write that the temple of Derr "was built in the second half of the king's reign", likely because its "plan and decoration resembles the Great Temple of Abu Simbel (minus the colossal seated statues against the facade)." [Baines and Málek, "op. cit.", p.183] Abu Simbel was built between Year 24 and Year 31 of Ramesses' reign. [Grimal, "op. cit.", p.260] According to Joyce Tyldesley, the Temple of Derr was built by Setau, who is known to have served as Ramesses' Viceroy of Kush or Nubia between Year 38 to 63 of this pharaoh's reign. [Joyce Tyldesley, "Ramesses: Egypt's Greatest Pharaoh", Penguin Books, 2001 paperback, pp.104 & 167]

Decorations and architecture

The temple of Derr is more elaborate than the "speos" of Beit el-Wali and "consisted of a sequence of two hypostyle halls (probably preceded by a forecourt and a pylon) leading to a triple sanctuary where a cult of statues of Ramesses II, Amon-Re, Ra-Horakhty and Ptah was celebrated." [Grimal, "op. cit.", p.259] When cleaned and restored in modern times, Derr proved to contain unusually bright and vivid relief decorations which contrasted sharply "with the more subdued color tones" from other Egyptian temples. [Baines and Málek, "op. cit.", p.183]

In 1964, the temple was dismantled and relocated along with the Temple of Amada to a new site. [David, "op. cit.", p.104] [Christine Hobson, Exploring the World of the Pharaohs: A complete guide to Ancient Egypt, Thames & Hudson 1993 paperback, p.177] This move was made necessary by the rising waters of Lake Nasser, due to the Aswan High Dam project. [Craig Hildreth, [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/derr.htm The Temple of Derr in Nubia] , exploreegypt.net] Early travellers visited the original site, and the temple itself was first studied and published by Aylward Blackman [David, "op. cit.", p.104] in 1913. [Aylward M. Blackman, "The Temple of Derr", (Cairo 1913)]

References

External links

* [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/derr.htm The Temple of Derr in Nubia]