The Island of Philae

"Island from the Time of Re"

The Island of Philae is the site of several temples, the largest being the Temple of Isis. Most of the Temple of Isis was constructed between the reigns of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285 - 246 BCE) and Diocletian (284 - 305 CE). The cult of Isis on Philae appears to have survived well into the Christian era. The latest surviving hieroglyphic inscription, dated 394 CE, occurs at the site as well as the last example of demotic graffiti, dated 425 CE. Not until 550 CE, by edict of the Byzantine emperor Justinian, was the temple converted to a Christian church and the religion that had survived intact for at least 4000 years came officially to an end.

The temples were moved from their original site on the island of Philae to the nearby island of Agilqiyya during the early 1970s in order to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. No casual visitor, unaware that the temples have been moved, would suspect that the temples were other than intact at their original site.

The Island of Philae as seen from the ferry. The Temple of Isis is on the right and the Kiosk of Trajan is to the left.

Just past the ferry landing on the south side of the island, stretches an elongated trapezoidal courtyard flanked by colonnades. The West Colonnade (pictured left) is better preserved and consists of 31 (originally 32) beautiful columns with exuberant floral columns, no two of which are exactly alike.

The Temple of Isis. On the east side of the first pylon and set at a right angle to it is the Gate of Ptolemy II. The layout of the temple is apparent from this vantage point. From left to right is the first pylon, the east courtyard, the second pylon, the covered hypostyle hall, and the sanctuary.

Set at right angles to the first pylon, the Gate of Ptolemy II is probably a remnant of an earlier temple.

First Pylon of the Temple of Isis The First Pylon of the Temple of Isis consists of two sections which were begun by Ptolemy II Philadelphos and completed by Ptolemy I Euergetes. Upon the facade of the pylon are traditional scenes of battle and offering. They include images of Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos who smites enemies in the approved fashion in either corner, watched by Isis, Horus and Hathor. The western Pylon is split, allowing entrance to the mammisi (birth house) located between the two pylons in the forecourt.

The Second Pylon of the Temple of Isis is offset to the east of the first and angled so as to change the axis of the structure. A large relief on the right tower shows Neos Dionysos placing sacrifices before Horus and Hathor. This pylon is particularly interesting for the patterns of effacements wrought on its large and bold reliefs. Notice that the figures on the western pylon (left) have been carefully hammered out but those on the east have been left completely intact. This is perhaps the most flagrant example of selective destruction in all the Ptolemaic temples. Some of the columns of the mammisi between the two pylons can be seen to the left of the pylon.

The Mammisi The western side of the forecourt is dominated by the Hathor-headed colonnaded Birth House (mammisi) of Ptolemy IV which linked his ancestry to Horus and Osiris.

The Kiosk of Trajan, nicknamed the "Pharaoh's Bedstead", is a beautiful structure of 14 massive columns with carved floral capitals. Inside are reliefs showing Trajan as a pharaoh making offerings to Osiris, Isis and Horus. The Emperor Trajan lived around 100 CE.