"Last Retreat for the Ancient Egyptian Religion" Philae by atufft

Philae Travel Guide: 82 reviews and 342 photos

The Temple is a Ptolemaic Period Masterpiece

The Greeks and Romans visited as far south as Philae and Kalabsha (see my Aswan pages for tips about Kalabsha), rarely seeking out Abu Simbel, and almost certainly not invading the Sudan. In any case, the influence of Greek religion and art are very clearly part of The Temples at Philae, which have a natural love of the human body, particularly at the Temple of Isis. Construction began under Ptolemy II (285 - 246 BC)and was completed by Roman Emperors as late as Diocletian (CE 284 - 305). Thus, the Temple of Trajan is a significant contribution here, though none of the construction uses the Roman arch architecture. In any case, the cult surrounding the God Isis became very popular in the ancient world.

Temple Closed During Reign of Justinian

Temple of Philae remained a place of worship and use of hieroglyphics well into Christian times, but by order of Christian Bishop Theodorus, during the reign of Justinian, the temple was closed. The early Christians transformed the main temple's hypostyle into a chapel, they built some churches, and defaced the old reliefs. Their inscriptions in turn were defaced by the early Muslims.

Temple of Philae was saved AFTER the Dam was built

The rising waters actually flooded the Temple of Isis, but in a heroic effort, UNESCO, financed a plan to isolate the island, pump out the water, and remove the entire temple to a higher island location where it stands today. Note the water damage in this image. See the tips for the general views, more artwork and discussion of this great temple complex. The ride by ferry boat from the high dam is itself worth the trip. See also my tips on Aswan and Abu Simbel.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Great Ptolemaic Island Temple
Cons:Water Damage and Defacement Undermine the Beauty of the God Isis
In a nutshell:Temple of Philae is a must see place from Aswan

Last visit to Philae: Jan 1997
Intro Written Jun 24, 2006
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Reviews (5)

Christian Influences at Island of Philae Things to Do (5)

On the Temple of Philae, out buildings served as churches in the early Christian period. Interestingly, this occupation... more travel advice

Kiosk of Trajan from Temple of Hathor - Philae

Temple of Hathor and Kiosk of Trajan at... Things to Do (5)

The Temple of Isis is the largest structure on the island, but certainly not the only important one. The outlying... more travel advice

Gifts being Offered to Isis at Temple of Isis - Philae

Art at the Island Temple of Philae Things to Do (5)

The Temple of Isis worships the power of women to give birth and nurture life. The key of life is a frequent symbol held... more travel advice

Defaced Isis and Osiris at Temple of Isis - Philae

Religion at the Island Temple of Philae Things to Do (5)

Philae means "end" and so the Island Temple of Isis was considered the southern most temple of it kinds. It was under... more travel advice

Comments (3)

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TheWanderingCamel May 17, 2008 at 9:02 AM

Stunning photos! leyle
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MM212 Jun 28, 2006 at 1:31 PM

Great tips and amazing photos... that impossibly blue sky!!
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uglyscot Jun 26, 2006 at 6:52 AM

This is one place I did manage to take a lot of pictures. even though the carvings have been defaced the outlines are clear.