A temple makes for an unlikely gift candidate.

However, that notion proved no obstruction to the generosity of Egypt after receiving help from the U. S. to move some of their historical monuments to safety as Egypt embarked on constructing a large dam.

How the temple made it to the U. S. and eventually to the Met, is a tale that is ensnared with corruption, collusion, and conceit.

Exemplified not by the 20+ cities that put in bids to house this enormous gift but by the philanthropists who ultimately ended up funding the new home for the temple at the Met.