In the 2nd Century BC along the Nile River valley a shrine was constructed by King Adikhalamani of Meroe, dedicated to Isis. It was said that the goddess gave birth to Horus the sky god within the Temple of Debod.
Hundreds of years later the site was sealed off after Nubia converted to Christianity and abandoned for ages. But how is it that an ancient Egyptian temple ends up in Madrid, Spain?
Construction of the Aswan High Dam would cause flooding of Lake Nasser, imminently destroying this historical monument. In prior years, Spain had helped saved the nearby Abu Simbel Temples and as a show of friendship, Egypt gifted this remarkable place of worship to the country in 1968. Brick by brick, the temple was dismantled and reassembled in Madrid, facing east to west.
Located high up on a hill in Parque de la Montaña with exquisite views, walking around the temple grounds is a pleasure.
A rose garden sits at the base of the hill, all around the park flora is lush, and if you are lucky you may spot some parrots in the vicinity.
During the Spanish Civil War the park was the location of the Montaña barracks, there are layers of history to this place.
Fun Fact: Egypt has offered temples to other countries, you can find them in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Museo Egizio in Turin, and the Rijksmuseum in Leiden.