Portico of the Temple of Dendera - an elegant addition to an oriental-inspired decoration - David Roberts, Egypt and Nubia 1838

Color lithograph: Portico of the temple of Dendera

The "Portico of the Temple of Dendara" is an impressive example of Egyptian temples of the Roman period, located on the western plain of the Nile Valley, about two miles from the river. This portico is remarkable for its exceptional state of preservation: the sculptures and paintings are still very clear, although the figures of the goddess Hathor have been damaged, probably by Christian iconoclasts. The columns of the portico are adorned with rich details, but the style, although grandiose, is heavier and less refined than earlier works.

Built under the direction of Cleopatra and her son Caesarion, the temple was dedicated to Athor and completed by Augustus and his successors. The portico, supported by twenty-four columns, features extensive sculptures, including the heads of Athor, representing the Egyptian goddess of love. Despite its relatively recent date, it is almost as imposing and beautiful as the older temples of Egypt. A significant portion of the portico is still buried beneath the sand, which was partially excavated by French teams to reveal the temple's grandeur.

Reproduction of an engraving of a drawing by David Roberts (1796-1864) made during his three-month journey from Alexandria to the temple of Abu Simbel in Nubia, a journey of more than fifteen hundred kilometers.

His drawings were already the subject of considerable success during his lifetime, in particular those published between 1846 and 1849 in the form of three volumes, published in London by FG Moon and entitled Egypt and Nubia, made from the drawings and sketches made during this trip to the banks of the Nile during the winter of 1838-1839, and lithographed by Louis Haghe.