Jonathan Kieran

Behold an interesting story about the machinations and maneuvers that led to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s acquisition of a small ancient Egyptian temple of the goddess Isis in the wake of the construction of the Aswan Dam. The temple itself is not a complete structure—only the entrance gate and remains of the inner sanctum survived the ages, but it has been a famous jewel in the Met’s hallowed crown. Indeed, the edifice was given as a gift by the Egyptian government, which realized that the shrine would be submerged after the completion of the legendary dam. The article focuses upon the political and cultural “game” that ensued when the time came to decide which institution and nation would actually receive the extraordinary prize. Obviously, the entire edifice had to be dismantled, shipped to its destination, and then reconstructed in a new, foreign setting … Amazon didn’t deliver it to the Met’s door.

As for the temple itself, it was one of many smaller Nubian monuments that were doomed to be lost forever in Lake Nasser without the colossal relocation efforts accorded to truly glorious complexes such as those at Philae Island and Abu Simbel, courtesy of UNESCO. The temple at Dendur had originally been a small local sanctuary dedicated to Amun-Ra, the chief Egyptian “state deity” beginning with the New Kingdom Period. In Greco Roman times, the edifice had been remodeled and rededicated to the goddess Isis, whose popularity and powerful cult had begun to overshadow that of Amun-Ra and his cadre of associated divinities.

Get the scoop on the whole tantalizing endeavor HERE.

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[ Delightful new work by Jonathan Kieran is slated for major release in the near future so brace yourselves and think of England. This stuff is built for speed. Stay tuned for more. Mr. Kieran is presently working feverishly to complete several works of masterful caliber. Therefore, social media engagement must remain secondary for a time … in favor of actual accomplishment. ] 

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