Temple of Hibis
Location: El Kharga Egypt
Client: Supreme Council of Antiquities
Architect: N/A
Value: Not disclosed
The Temple of Hibis, located in Egypt’s Kharga Oasis, is one of the most important surviving temples in the Western Desert.
Begun in 588 BC and completed in 522 BC, it is a monument of exceptional archaeological and cultural significance. The structure had suffered from long-term instability, with major external walls supported by temporary timber shores. The project focused on conserving the temple in situ, preserving as much original fabric as possible while securing its long-term structural stability.
The temple had experienced significant foundation movement caused by excessive cultivation and irrigation around the site, leading to shrinkage and heave in the subsoil. This movement caused the external walls to rotate and fracture, leaving the structure reliant on temporary timber shoring for support. Additional complications included splitting of the masonry wall skins, deterioration of previous concrete repairs and the need to avoid damage to decorated surfaces and hieroglyphics during any structural intervention.
The completed works stabilised the temple structure and allowed the removal of the temporary timber shores that had supported it for many years.
For the first time in a long period, the remains can now be viewed without visible propping, greatly improving both presentation and understanding of the monument. The project secured the temple’s structural future while preserving its historic character, demonstrating how targeted engineering intervention can protect internationally significant heritage in a highly sensitive archaeological setting.
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