Temple of Maharraqa

Welcome to the Temple of Maharraqa, a uniquely austere and historically significant Roman-era temple located in New Wadi es-Sabua. In antiquity, this site was known by its Greek name, Hierasykaminos, which means 'The Sacred…

We step into what would have been the hypostyle hall of the temple. The columns here are particularly interesting; they feature capitals that are a mix of Egyptian and Roman styles, but many of them remain unfinished, some…

Although the walls are blank, we know from foundation texts and historical records that this temple was dedicated to Serapis and Isis. Serapis was a 'synthetic' god, combining elements of Osiris and the sacred Apis bull with the…

The name of this site in antiquity, Hierasykaminos, points to a deep connection with the sacred sycamore tree. In Egyptian mythology, the sycamore was the tree from which the goddess Hathor (and sometimes Isis or Nut) would…

One of the most unique architectural features of Maharraqa is its spiral staircase, which once led to the roof. This is a purely Roman innovation; traditional Egyptian temple staircases were almost always straight or composed of…

Like many temples in Nubia, Maharraqa was repurposed as a church during the early Christian era. The small, enclosed nature of the temple made it an ideal space for a congregation. …

Our final stop focuses on the modern history of Maharraqa: its salvage and relocation. In the 1960s, the construction of the Aswan High Dam threatened to submerge the temple under the waters of the new Lake Nasser. …

As our tour of the Temple of Maharraqa concludes, we are left with the image of a silent sentinel at the edge of the world. We have explored a temple that is as much a military outpost as a religious sanctuary, a place where the…