Philae Things to Do

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The chambers inside the temple of Isis is illuminated by dark yellow lightings so you will see the carvings on the walls. Creepy when I was there because I was the only one inside, in fact, there were only 1 group of tourists of about 4 people with their guide in the island, and the guard, and I think 2 military officers, who are all outside of the temple. (Below is a description provided from touregypt.net)

Three small antechambers, flanked by dark rooms, leads to the sanctuary which is lit by two small windows. It still contains the pedestal placed here by Ptolemy III Euergetes I and his wife Berenice for the image of Isis in her sacred bark. The granite shrines (naos) were removed to European museums during the 19th century. From her sanctuary, the statue of Isis would have been carried out in processions from the temple on her ceremonial barque to make the short crossing to the island of Bigeh to visit the tomb of her spouse, Osiris.

Surrounding the sanctuary are the Osiris chambers reached by a short staircase on the west side of the temple which leads to the roof. Having Osirian rooms on the roof of the temple was standard during the Graeco-Roman Period, though here they are sunk well below the level of the roof at each of its four corners. The Osiris room has its own vestibule with scenes of gods bewailing the dead Osiris, and the inner room contains scenes relating to the collection of the god's sacred limbs.

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When you enter the second pylon, there is a small open court, which is part of a hypostyle hall -- huge columns.

The court at one time had a colonnade on its east and west sides, but today contains only ten columns. The little court was separated from the vestibule beyond it by screen walls uniting four columns, behind which four other columns helped support the roof of the hall. On the east site, the reliefs have been replaced by Coptic Christian crosses before which a Christian altar was erected in about 500 AD. At that time there were dedicated several churches here, including one to the Virgin Mary and one to Saint Stephen, the former being the standard Christian substitute for Isis and the second a highly appropriate replacement for Harendotes. On the side doorway leading to a room on the right is another inscription to Bishop Theodorus, made during the reign of Justinian 527-565 AD), claiming credit for this "good work". A similar inscription commemorates the archaeological expedition of 1841 sent by Pope Gregory XVI. (description provided from TourEgypt.net, I'm not claiming the credit).

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Aside from the Trajan's Kiosk, the 150 feet X 60 feet tall first great pylon which looks to me as the main entrance is a very prominent structure in the island. The pylon has 2 towers with the gate in the middle.

Construction of the pylon was started by Potlemy II Philadelphus, concluded by Ptolemy III Euergetes I, the decors were done over a much longer period.

(See pic) On the right facade of the pylon is a figure of Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos holding a group of enemies and raises his club to smite them, and that's the biggest figure and most noticeable. The restis different figures of Isis, Horus, Ptolemy XII, etc.

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The Trajan's Kiosk is part of the Philae Temple complex and located just beside the edge of the lake. It was constructed by the Roman Emperor - Trajan and a prominent structure in the Philae Temple complex.

It's a 14 massive columns structure with carved floral capitals, there must have been a wooden roof during the ancient times, now, it's open-roof. The structure measures 15 X 20 X 15.85 meters high. You'll find reliefs inside showing Trajan as a pharaoh making offerings to Osiris, Isis and Horus.

Emperor Trajan lived around 100 AD.

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Philae as popularly known today is the main temple complex relocated from Philae island, after the High Dam was built, to the island of Agilika.

Philae Temple was the center of the cult of the goddess Isis and her connection with Osiris, Horus, and the Kingship, during the Ptolemaic period of Egypt.

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It is aptly called as Temple of Isis, popularly called Philae Temple, but in actual Philae - the island where the temple of Isis used to be located is already under the water due to the rising water of the dam.

The temple in Philae was relocated in a nearby island called Agilika. Agilika was landscaped to replicate the original Philae island. So the temple and other relics are now located in Agilika island -- relocated there by a multinational team under the banner of UNESCO during the 70s.

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The ancient Egyptian name of the smaller island is Philak, or boundary. As their southern frontier, the Pharaohs of Egypt kept there a strong garrison, and, for the same reason, it was a barrack also for Macedonian and Roman soldiers in their turn. The first temple structure, which was built by native pharaohs of the thirtieth dynasty, was the one for Hathor.

The island temple construction at Philae was continued over a three-century period by the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty and the rulers of the Roman Principate. The principal deity of the temple complex was Isis, but other temples and shrines were dedicated to her son Horus and the goddess Hathor. In Ptolemaic times Hathor was associated with Isis, who was in turn associated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite. For centuries the temple complex was the holiest site for Isis worshipers. The temple was closed down officially in the 6th century AD by the Byzantine emperor, Justinian ( 527-565 AD ). It was the last pagan temple to exist in the Mediterranean world (although a Roman temple to Isis remained in England). Philae was a seat of the Christian religion as well as of the ancient Egyptian faith. Ruins of a Christian church were still discovered, and more than one adytum bore traces of having been made to serve at different eras the purposes of a chapel of Osiris and of Christ. The Philae temple was converted into a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, until that was closed by Muslim invaders in the 7th century.

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Built around 1900 during the British occupation of Egypt, the Aswan Dam was the largest of its kind at the time. The result was a higher water level behind the dam and much land was submerged under water, particularly during the flood season in the summer. The original island of Philae and its ancient ruins were one such victim. For years, the ruins were submerged under water about 6 months per year and tourists navigated between the ruins in boats. In the 1970s, with the help of UNESCO the Temple of Isis and other structures were moved from the original island of Philae to the higher neighbouring island of Agilkia, which was landscaped to resemble the original. Stone by stone, the temples were rebuilt on drier grounds. The Aswan Dam, which was meant to regulate the waters of the Nile, eventually proved insufficient for the task and its height was twice increased, yet it was clear that another larger dam was needed. Thus, in the 1960s the High Dam was created further upstream. The motorway from Aswan to its airport and to Abu Simbel crosses over the Aswan Dam, and it is seen when visiting the ruins of Philae.