Temple Of Dakka (Location, History & Description)

The Temple of Dakka is located 100 Km south of the High Dam; it is considered to be in Nubia. Its new location is about 81 Km away from its original one. Now you can visit it while cruising Lake Nasser, in the area of Wadi El-Sebua.

We still don’t have a final answer to this question; scholars have different opinions about who built the Temple of Dakka. Some scholars say it was built by Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III during the 18th dynasty, as they found reused blocks from earlier structures built by them.

Other scholars suggest that it was built by the Nubian King Akamani, who the Greeks called Ergamenes, in 220 BCE. Other opinions claim it was built during the Ptolemaic Period by Ptolemy II and other Greek Kings. So we can’t really give a name or date about the construction of the Temple of Dakka.

This Temple was initially thought to be dedicated to Horus, but later it was built in dedication to Thoth, the God of Wisdom, that’s why it is also called the Temple of Thoth. The Temple was also known as Pselqet to the ancient Egyptians, and to the Greeks, it was called Pselichis.

Dakka Temple is considered a small one; it consists of a façade, a 12 meters high Pylon, where you can have a magnificent view of the lake from above, a courtyard, and two sanctuaries.

It is unique for its spiral staircase, which is the only one in any Nubian Temple. It is also oriented in an unusual way, in a north to south direction, in alignment with the Nile River.

The reliefs on the wall depict the Nubian king making offerings to local gods of Aswan and Ptolemaic kings sacrificing to various Egyptian deities. It also displays the Goddess of Aswan, Anqet, decorated with feathered headdress, and the lion-headed goddess, Sekhmet. The Kings are depicted making offerings to God Thoth as well as Isis and Tefnut.

Even if the Temple of Dakka is located in a lightly visited site, it is worth visiting. You can make this stop during your Lake Nasser cruise at the site of Wadi EL-Sebua. You’ll find the New Kingdom temple of “Valley of lions” and the Temple of Maharraqa. It is also located about 1 Km north of the Temple of Ramses II.

The Lake Nasser Cruise is a unique trip in Egypt for all history lovers and those who crave uniqueness. Every stop during this cruise is different from any other historical visit you made in Egypt.