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Welcome to my "Templo de Debod" description page, for photos & videos of this site click --> HERE.
Less than a 5 minute walk
northwest of the Plaza de Espaņa one comes across an amazing
yet seemingly out of place monument that instantly transports him/her from modern day
Madrid to the heart of ancient Egypt.
The Templo de Debod. ("Temple of Debod") is well worth a visit when in Madrid. Often used by the city as an educational and cultural center, the Temple is a second century (B.C.) Egyptian Temple from southern Egypt (the shores of the the Nile River). The Chapel of the Temple was ordered to be erected by King Meroe Adijalamani and was dedicated to the Gods Amon and Isis. Many other Kings added onto the Temple later on, giving it the aspect it has today. Serious construction was carried out on the Temple when Egypt was anexed by the Roman Empire. The Temple was abandoned in the 6th century B.C. when the sanctuaries of of Isis and File were closed.
In 1960 the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - www.unesco.org) began an operation to save many of the monuments and archiological treasures in danger of flooding and destruction due to the construction of the Asuan Damn in the region. The Templo de Debod was brought to Spain in 1968. It was shortly thereafter rebuilt and opened to the public for the first time in 1972. Unique in both Spain and the world, the Temple is one of the last remaining in-tact architectural treasures of Ancient Egypt that exists outside of Egypt itself. Inside the Temple you will find the vestibule, Chapel of Adijalamani, interior vestibule, Chapel of Naos, lateral chapels, crypts and the Uabet Audiovisual Room (interesting presentations in Spanish). Upstairs we see the Osiris Chapel and the terrace.
Metro stop: Plaza de Espaņa - line ){kind=small}
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Getting there: The Templo de Debod is located just north west of the Plaza de Espaņa on "Calle Feraz". From Plaza de Espaņa, walk to the northwest corner of the Plaza (Don Quijote statue side) where you will find an underground walkway that takes you safely under Calle Feraz (crossing the street above is very dangerous and NOT recommended) to the side where the Temple is located. Cross under and then go right and walk up until you see two sets of stairs on your left. Those steps lead up to the "Parquye de la Montaņa" where the Temple is, you can't miss it once you are up the stairs.
Other: Telephone for more info and guided tour o and/or group reservations - (+34) 91 366 7415
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