Amada is the oldest Egyptian temple in Nubia. It was originally built by Pharaoh Thutmosis III of the 18th dynasty and was dedicated to Amon and Re-Horakhty.Hand son and successor, Amenhotep II continued the decoration program for the buildings. Amenhotep II's successor, Thutmosis IV, decided to place a roof over its courtyard and turned it into a hypostyle. dynasty. Various kings of the 19th dynasty, especially Seti I and Ramesses II, "also carried out minor restorations and improved the temple's ornaments." respectively Siptah.
Temple interior
The original building plan for the temple consisted of a pylon, courtyard and a portico leading to a shrine. Amenhotep II on the right. Although the temple has a matte and crumbling exterior, its interior has some of the best well-cut reliefs with bright and clear colors.
Relief with Thutmose III before the gods in Amada
The best painted reliefs are found in the innermost part of the temple where Thutmosis III and Amenhotep II are seen embracing or sacrificing to various Egyptian deities. On the left side of the vestibule, Amenhoptep II is crowned by Horus and Thoth and runs forward with an oar or a bite (or a navigational instrument). The cult hall next to the sanctuary contains some interesting founding and consecration scenes where "the ritual 'stretching the line', the ceremonial manufacture and laying of bricks, and the sacrifice of the temple to its gods."
Historical data
The temple has two important historical inscriptions. The earliest, dating to the 3rd year of Amenhotep II, "is found on a topped stele on the back (eastern) wall of the sanctuary." Its text describes this pharaoh's ruthless military campaign in Asia:
"His Majesty returned in joy to his father Amon after killing with his own nail club seven chiefs in Takhesy (Syria) who were then hung upside down in the bow of His Majesty's ship."
Amenhotep II goes on to describe how he hung six of the dead chiefs "on the walls of Thebes" while the seven were hung on the walls of Napata (a Nubian border town near the Fourth Cataract). This was done as a clear warning to the Nubians about the fatal consequences of an uprising during Amenhotep's reign. The second historical text, "on a stele engraved on the left (north) bank of the entrance" mentions a defeat of an invasion from Libya during Merneptah's fourth year.
The temple was described by early travelers and was first published by Henri Gauthier in 1913.
Between 1964 and 1975, the temple was moved from its original location to a "about 65 m higher and 2.5 km further away from its original location". The Temple of Derr carved from the rock was also moved to Amada's new location.
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