The Temple of Kalabsha (also Temple of Mandulis)
is a Ancient Egyptian temple that was originally located at Bab al-Kalabsha
(Gate of Kalabsha), approximately 50 kilometers south of Aswan. The temple was
situated on the west bank of the Nile River , in Nubia and was originally
built around 30 BC during the early Roman era. While the temple was
constructed in Augustus's reign, it was never finished.
The temple was a tribute to Mandulis (Merul),
a Lower Nubian sun god.It was constructed over an earlier sanctuary of
Amenhotep II.The temple is 76 meters long and 22 meters wide in dimension While
the structure dates to the Roman period, it features many fine reliefs such as
"a fine carving of Horus emerging from reeds on the inner curtain
wall" of the temple. From Kalabsha's "sanctuary chambers, a staircase
leads up to the roof of the temple" where one can see a splendid view of
the temple itself and the sacred lake. Several historical records
were inscribed on the temple walls of Kalabsha such as "a long inscription
carved by the Roman Governor Aurelius Besarion in AD 250, forbidding pigs in
the temple" as well as an inscription of "the Nubian king Silko,
carved during the 5th century and recording his victory over the Blemmves and a
picture of him dressed as a Roman soldier on horseback."Silko was the
Christian king of the Nubian kingdom of Nobatia.