The Temple of Dendur is originally located along the Nile River in Lower Nubia. However, because the area was flooded, in an attempt to save the historical structures in the area, Egypt gifted the temple to America for its financial aid. The temple was brought to New York and gifted to the Metropolitan Museum as a result of their winning proposal. Although the Temple of Dendur was installed in 1978, it is still till this day, a site flooded with many visitors.

The architectural firm, Roche Dinkeloo or Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates was in charge of much of the Metropolitan Museum’s expanisioning exhibitions. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise that they would be planning the new home for the Temple of Dendur. The goal of the architectural firm was to convey the rocky landscape of the Nile.

The Temple of Dendur has an undeniable presence in the Sackler Wing, located at the ground floor of the Metropolitan Museum, where the temple is installed. The area is composed of a series of Egyptian Art Galleries, many of which are dark enclosed rooms. Once they are passed through, visitors are opened up to the room contradictory of the rest. This room in particular is build with many factors in mind, achieving a specific outcome. On one side is fully transparent glass which allows a mass amount of light into the space and enables anyone to look in or out. The layout of the room can be described as elevated offsets of rectangles. The two structures comprising the temple is situated in the middle of the room, proving its spirit as the main exhibition in the room.

The entry points are all on an axis from the entrance into the gallery space to the actual temple itself. Although there are five entrances into the gallery hall where the Temple of Dendur is located, the main entrance takes on a very straight view of the gate. The gate thus frames and directly leads to the temple. While the gate is closed off to visitors, there are two stairways on both sides to an elevated platform. Proceeding it is another two stairways on both sides to another elevated platform where the temple sits. By allowing specific entryways, boundaries are created. Alongside the elevated space is an area with water which resembles the Nile which further limits access. While the cult terrace is accessible to visitors throughout the entire space, the gate is closed off from visitors. The courtyard is open through entrance points on both sides, but not through the gate which can be limiting to the experience. The temple itself can be said to be divided into three spaces, the entrance hall, the offering hall, and the sanctuary. A chamber is hidden inside the back of the wall of the sanctuary. This shows prgressive exclusionism. As you go deeper into the temple, the more private it becomes.

The entire gallery space is composed of similar materials in both color and texture all throughout creating a uniform environment. The Temple of Dendur, constructed of sandstone seems to utilize vernacular material, or supply that was easily accessible in the nearby area of the Nile. Although the temple was built by the Roman governor for the Roman emperor Augustus, the architecture and decoration followed Egyptian style. The gate is tall which performs verticality as you walk through. The two columns that supports the structure of the temple is shaped with capitals of papyrus and lotus, lily plants at the entrance, resembling Egypt and its nearby environment. The art, hieroglyphics on the structure proves the function of religion and culture. While the gate is a direct entrance, the temple itself has one main entrance and two small openings on the sides. This space is where food and many offerings are made as well as the burning of incense to the deities by priests for everyone. In return is their gift of life and survival. While the interior was prohibited to commoners, during religious celebrations, the statues would be brought out in order to feel closer to god. The statues to them, appears as the actually god standing before them.

While the goal of Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates was apparent, it can be argued that the site of the Temple of Dendur is too simplified and abstracted as compared to its actual environment in Nubia.