The Temple of Debod

Let’s take a quick detour to Egypt, without leaving Spain. It’s time to explore the Parque de la Montaña and admire the stunning Temple of Debod. This isn’t a replica, but a genuine Nubian temple, built in honour of the god Amun, dating back to two centuries before Christ. How did a piece of ancient Egypt end up here, in the heart of Madrid? You might be familiar with the Aswan High Dam. For those who aren’t, it’s one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world, built in 1954 by Egypt’s Prime Minister Nasser. The dam brought year-round water supply, controlled floods, prevented droughts and generated electricity. But its construction came at a huge cost: it meant flooding the Upper Nile Valley, displacing thousands of people, and submerging countless ancient monuments. This was all considered necessary in the name of modernising Egypt. The dam was built, and Nubia, an ancient region along the Nile, was flooded. In 1959, Egypt and Sudan reached out to the newly established UNESCO to launch a major international rescue effort. The same campaign saw the spectacular Abu Simbel temples dismantled and reconstructed further north, above Lake Nasser. The Temple of Debod was a gift of thanks from Egypt to Spain for its help in preserving Nubian heritage. The temple is free to visit, but entry is organised in timed slots, so you might have to wait before heading inside.