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Primary sourceArtifact23-10 BCE

Temple of Dendur

23-10 BCE

An Egyptian-style temple commissioned by Augustus in Nubia, whose reliefs show him as a pharaoh offering to the gods.

The temple's reliefs depict Augustus as an Egyptian pharaoh, revealing how his rule was presented differently outside Rome.

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The Temple of Dendur, a sandstone Egyptian temple reassembled inside a glass-walled museum gallery, standing on a raised granite platform above a reflecting pool. A gateway with carved cornice is at right and a columned facade at left.
Temple of Dendur, commissioned by Augustus, 23-10 BCE. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

About this source

What it is

The Temple of Dendur was commissioned around 23 BCE by Emperor Augustus and built by the Roman governor of Egypt, Petronius, dedicated to the goddess Isis and the deified brothers Pedesi and Pihor. It originally stood in Nubia near the Nile. Rescued from flooding caused by the Aswan High Dam, it was given by Egypt to the United States and has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York since 1978.

Why it matters

In its reliefs, Augustus appears not as a Roman citizen-ruler but in the traditional role of an Egyptian pharaoh, making offerings to the gods. This shows how he adapted his image to local traditions to legitimise his rule over conquered Egypt, very differently from his modest 'first citizen' persona in Rome itself. The temple's 20th-century rescue and relocation also shows how ancient monuments can become objects of international diplomacy.

Look closer

  • Why might Augustus have presented himself so differently in Egypt than in Rome?
  • What does the temple's journey from Nubia to New York tell us about how nations use ancient monuments today?
  • What do the carved offering scenes suggest about the relationship between rulers and local religion?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Augustus on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Secondary source

Emperor Augustus with Globe

After Titian (engraving by A. Sadeler, after Titian) · between 1700 and 1799 (possibly 17th century)

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Primary source

Relief Head of the Young Augustus

Marble statue of a standing man in armor, right arm raised pointing forward, with a draped cloak over his left arm. A small cupid-like figure with a dolphin stands beside his right leg. Plain dark grey background.Sculpture

Secondary source

Augustus of Prima Porta

c. 19 BCE or later

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Primary source

Ara Pacis

13-9 BCE

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