Tabo (Nubia)

Tabo is the modern name of a historic Nubian city. The name comes from a small village of the same name, which is located near the ruins.

Geographical location

Tabo is located just south of Kerma, about 40 km north of Dongola, at the southern end of the Argo- island in the Nile.

Amun Temple of Tabo

Here stood a temple of Amun, who was apparently already built in the Egyptian 18th Dynasty, but was re- built by Taharqa perfect. The temple is almost identical to those of the same ruler, which he built in Kawa and Sanam. The temple is not well preserved. Before his entrance found lying two seven -meter high Colossi, which probably represent King Natakamani and have been drawn in the early 19th century travelers. In 1970, the two colossal statues were moved to Khartoum and placed in front of the National Museum. The archaeological findings show that the two statues were never set up, possibly because one of them to do when attempting this broke. Excavations there was also a gilded bronze statue of a Nubian ruler.

The actual temple is 75.60 m long and about 31 meters wide. The first pylon is 40 m wide, the second 35.50 m. From the dimensions it is one of the largest Nubian temple. There was a first courtyard with columns and a subsequent portico. In the posterior third, there was the Holy of Holies. This rear part of the building is severely disrupted by Meroitic tags. The original plan is therefore no longer fully reconstructed. In the first courtyard stood a kiosk, which was built by an otherwise unknown Meroitic rulers. His name is not completely preserved. However, the residues do not match any known ruler name.

The Temple overall is very destroyed today. One reason for this condition is certainly the fact that there are no stones on Argo and the local inhabitants therefore used this temple as a quarry. Therefore stone blocks of the temple can be found installed in many of the neighboring villages.