Monday, March 05, 2007

Hibis Temple, Kharga

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/834/tr5.htm
A snapshot of Hibis Temple in Kharga Oasis: "Darius I treated the Egyptians with respect and good will. His list of achievements includes finishing the canal connecting the Nile to the Red Sea, extending the Serapeum at Saqqara and the completion of Hibis Temple in Kharga Oasis.
Dedicated to the Theban triad of gods Amun, Mut and Khonsu, the building of Hibis Temple was ordered by King Apries of the 26th Dynasty in 588 BC. It was finally completed 66 years later in 522 BC. The largest and best preserved temple of the Western Desert was actually concealed from sight all the way until the 20th century when it was dug out.
Hibis Temple, derived from the ancient Egyptian word hebet or plough, grabbed the spotlight in recent years when an underground local water table was confirmed to be on the rise; the temple was at risk. Though it was scheduled for relocation to a safer site, a last-minute decision ruled the temple to be restored in-situ."

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