Temple of Dendur
Religious Site Ancient Egyptian temple preserved inside the Metropolitan Museum
Egyptian temple moved to the Metropolitan Museum and reconstructed in a light‑filled Sackler gallery; visitors study reliefs, inscriptions and the temple’s original Nile‑side cult context.
The Temple of Dendur is an ancient Egyptian temple dated to around 15 BC now installed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It is one of the better known museum-displayed temples from the Nile valley.
The interior room contains the intact temple structure and carved reliefs, set inside the glass-walled Sackler Wing with a shallow reflecting pool that frames views toward Central Park. The presentation allows close inspection of the reliefs and hieroglyphs under controlled conservation conditions.
The structure was removed from its original site at Dendur in Lower Nubia during the international Nile salvage campaigns of the 1960s and was given to the United States by Egypt in 1965. The temple was reconstructed and opened to the public at the Met in 1978.
The temple sits on the second floor of the Met’s Sackler Wing on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, adjacent to Central Park, making it easily reachable from the museum’s main entrance.
- Relocation history: The temple was presented to the United States by the Egyptian government in 1965 and installed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1978 as part of an international salvage effort.
- Display and viewing: Displayed in the Met's climate-controlled Sackler Wing with a reflecting pool, the setting preserves original stone reliefs and inscriptions for close viewing.
How to Get to Temple of Dendur #
The Met sits on Manhattan’s Museum Mile along Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street; the nearest subway is the 4/5/6 to 86th Street (then a short walk south), or the Q to 72nd Street plus a bus or a 15-20 minute walk. The temple is in the Sackler Wing adjacent to the museum’s Fifth Avenue entrance.
Tips for Visiting Temple of Dendur #
- The Temple of Dendur is in The Met's Sackler Wing; arrive early or late afternoon to avoid school-group surges.
- Sit on the low benches around the reflecting pool - the interior is designed to make the temple read like a miniature Nile bank.
- Photography without flash is allowed; the space is compact but the long horizontal composition makes for striking images.
Best Time to Visit Temple of Dendur #
Indoor attraction - visit when the Met's galleries are quieter (weekday mornings or Thursday evenings).
Weather & Climate near Temple of Dendur #
Temple of Dendur's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with very hot summers (peaking in July) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 11°C to 38°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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February
February is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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March
March is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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April
April is warm with highs of 33°C and lows of 20°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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May
May is hot with highs of 36°C and lows of 24°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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June
June is hot with highs of 38°C and lows of 26°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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July
July is the hottest month with highs of 38°C and lows of 27°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is the hottest month with highs of 38°C and lows of 27°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is hot with highs of 37°C and lows of 25°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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October
October is hot with highs of 34°C and lows of 22°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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November
November is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 17°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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December
December is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
