Rock Temple of Amada

Some 125mi/200km south of Aswan, in the most fertile part of Nubia, is the Rock Temple of Amada. Constructed on its original site, on the left bank of the Nile, by Tuthmosis III and Amenophis II (18th Dynasty), it was dedicated to Amun-Re and Re-Harakhty. Tuthmosis IV later enlarged it by the addition of a Hypostyle Hall. The figures of Amun, defaced by Amenophis IV, were restored by Sethosb I. In Christian times the temple became a church and the reliefs were covered over, and as a result have preserved their original brilliant coloring.

With the construction of the Aswan High Dam the rising waters of Lake Nasser threatened to engulf this monument along with many others; and in a rescue operation carried out by a French firm the entire temple was sawn out of the solid rock and re-erected on a new site - now known as New Amada - 1.5mi/2.6km farther north and 213ft/65m above its original level.

The Temple of Amada, oriented roughly north and south, is entered through a stone gateway, originally flanked by brick pylon towers. On the right hand side is Tuthmosis III and on the left Amenophis II in the presence of Re-Harakhty. On the inside of the gateway, to the left, is an inscription referring to a campaign by Merneptah against the Ethiopians, and beyond this is the praying figure of Setaw, Governor of Nubia in the reign of Ramesses II.