Temple of Tafa, Nubia - a touch of mystery and history for your decoration - David Roberts, Egypt and Nubia 1838

Color lithograph: Temple of Tafa, Nubia

Discover the remains of the Temple of Tafa, located on the left bank of the Nile, near Kalabshe. This archaeological site reveals two small, almost square temples, one of which is depicted here. It lies near the riverbank, surrounded by dhurrah fields, and still preserves its rear and side walls as well as two columns supporting the roof.

The columns have lotus leaf-shaped capitals, but their workmanship is poor. The temple, reused as a Christian church, still displays Greek inscriptions and religious paintings, although the latter are almost faded. The fragments of cornices and moldings scattered around the site date mainly from the Late Roman period.

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.