The Temple of Dendur: Celebrating 50 Years at The Met

On April 28, 1967, United States President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded an ancient Egyptian temple built in the first century B.C.—a gift from Egypt to the United States—to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today the structure, the Temple of Dendur, is one of the iconic and most beloved works of art at The Met.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of this momentous award, staff in the Departments of Egyptian Art and Objects Conservation have written new essays covering various aspects of the temple—including the temple's cult and decoration; its architecture; representations of the temple in 19th-century art and photography; cleaning and conservation of the structure; and how this beloved icon made its way from Egypt to the Museum.