The Temple of Dendur: Celebrating 50 Years at The Met
On April 28, 1967, United States President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded an ancient Egyptian temple built in the first century B.C.—a gift from Egypt to the United States—to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today the structure, the Temple of Dendur, is one of the iconic and most beloved works of art at The Met.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of this momentous award, staff in the Departments of Egyptian Art and Objects Conservation have written new essays covering various aspects of the temple—including the temple's cult and decoration; its architecture; representations of the temple in 19th-century art and photography; cleaning and conservation of the structure; and how this beloved icon made its way from Egypt to the Museum.
A Monumental Gift to The Met
Diana Craig Patch, Lila Acheson Wallace Curator in Charge, Department of Egyptian Art
The Temple of Dendur: Architecture and Ritual
Dieter Arnold, Curator Emeritus, Department of Egyptian Art; and Adela Oppenheim, Curator, Department of Egyptian Art
The Temple's Cult and Decoration
Isabel Stünkel, Associate Curator, Department of Egyptian Art
The Land of Nubia
Janice Kamrin, Associate Curator, Department of Egyptian Art; and Adela Oppenheim, Curator, Department of Egyptian Art
Early Representations of the Temple
Catharine H. Roehrig, Curator, Department of Egyptian Art
Conserving the Temple: A History
Anna Serotta, Assistant Conservator, Department of Objects Conservation
Cultural Events at the Temple of Dendur
Niv Allon, Assistant Curator, Department of Egyptian Art
Related Digital Content
From blog articles to an immersive, 360-degree view of the Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing, view an array of rich digital content related to the Museum's beloved Egyptian icon.