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The temple of dendur
Fig. 17 Front view temple of Dendur (www.metmuseum.org, accessed on 27-3-2019)
Fig. 18 the temple of Dendur (www.metmuseum.org, accessed on 27-3-2019)
Introduction to the temple of Dendur
The temple was built between 23 BC and 10 AD by Roman emperor Augustus. It was dedicated to
two Egyptian gods, but also to two minor princes of Gerf Hussein and Kurteh to the south of
Dendur, named Pedesi and Pihor, the sons of a local Blemmey lord, who had drowned in the Nile
(Aldred 1978, 30-32).
According to Aldred’s interpretation, the body of one of them, probably Pedesi, was buried in a
small chamber cut in the side of the western hill flanking the river. Funerary services could be held
at the small shrine that was built in front of it (Aldred 1978, 32).
It is an Egyptian custom to embalm the one who drowns in the river Nile and bury this person in a
sacred coffin, whether this person is Egyptian or not. This was probably part of the reason why the
temple was built for these two brothers (Aldred 1978, 32).