A fresh wave of debate has erupted in Spain’s capital over the preservation of the Temple of Debod—a unique monument gifted by Egypt in 1968. After a video criticizing the ancient structure’s condition went viral and gained millions of views on social media, Madrid’s business community decided to weigh in and offered a new perspective on the issue.
Local entrepreneurs have proposed launching an international ideas competition to identify the best ways to protect the monument from deterioration. The Egyptian diplomatic mission has already joined the project, adding extra weight to the discussion. Organizers insist that urgent action is needed to prevent further damage to the temple.
Why the debate over protecting the temple has resurfaced
Debates over whether the Temple of Debod should be sheltered have been ongoing for years. In other countries that received similar gifts from Egypt, monuments were placed under roofs in line with recommendations from Egyptian authorities. However, in Madrid, after long consultations with experts, officials decided that extra protection was unnecessary. According to them, studies showed the monument was in satisfactory condition and faced no immediate threat of collapse.
Nevertheless, Egyptologists and restoration experts highlight a number of issues: the monument suffers from vandalism, urban environmental impact, and weather conditions. Despite the presence of security, the temple is regularly subjected to graffiti and occasionally becomes a site for unauthorized parties. Experts believe that current measures are insufficient to ensure the long-term preservation of this unique structure.
What are entrepreneurs proposing, and how are the authorities responding?
The Madrid business community is proposing not only to consider the possibility of creating a protective structure but also to develop a comprehensive care plan for the monument. Among the ideas are launching an information campaign for residents to reduce vandalism, as well as attracting private investment to finance preservation work on the temple.
The capital’s authorities, for their part, insist that in recent years they have invested significant resources in maintaining the monument and have carried out a number of preventive measures. In their assessment, the temple is not currently at risk, and the existing conservation plan is effective. However, administration representatives do not rule out discussing new proposals if they are backed by convincing arguments and supported by the professional community.
The future of the Temple of Debod: Should we expect changes?
While the final decision remains with the city authorities and the call for ideas is just beginning, the fate of the Temple of Debod has once again become the focus of public attention. The question of whether the monument should be covered or if current measures are sufficient has divided both experts and local residents. One thing is clear: interest in preserving this unique landmark is stronger than ever, and new initiatives could spark changes in the approach to its protection.
