Philae temple complex - Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae
Agilkia, Assuan, Egypt
19.10.2023
The Temple of Philae in Agilkia, Aswan, Egypt
The Temple of Philae is an impressive ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the island of Agilkia in Aswan, Egypt. The complex is dedicated to the goddess Isis, and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
The history of the Temple of Philae dates back to the 4th century BC, when the first temple was built during the reign of Ptolemy II. Over the centuries, the temple was expanded and renovated by various rulers, including the Romans and Byzantines.
One of the most interesting features of the Temple of Philae is its relocation in the 1960s. Due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the temple and its surrounding structures were threatened by flooding. To save the temple, it was dismantled and moved to its current location on the nearby island of Agilkia, where it was reassembled.
The Temple of Philae is known for its beautiful and well-preserved reliefs and inscriptions, which depict scenes from ancient Egyptian mythology and daily life. The main temple is dedicated to Isis, while other structures on the island are dedicated to other deities, such as Osiris and Horus.
Today, the Temple of Philae is a popular tourist destination and a must-see for anyone interested in ancient Egyptian history and culture. Its location on the island of Agilkia adds to its charm, as visitors must take a boat to reach the island.
If you're planning a visit to the Temple of Philae, be sure to also check out the nearby Aswan High Dam and the unfinished obelisk of Aswan, both of which are important landmarks in Egyptian history and can provide a deeper understanding of the region's rich past.
Weiterführende Links:
This outstanding archaeological area contains such magnificent monuments as the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel and the Sanctuary of Isis at Philae, which were saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the International Campaign launched by UNESCO, in 1960 to 1980.
The Philae temple complex (; Ancient Greek: Φιλαί or Φιλή and Πιλάχ, Arabic: فيلة Egyptian Arabic: [fiːlæ], Egyptian: p3-jw-rķ' or 'pA-jw-rq; Coptic: ⲡⲓⲗⲁⲕ, ⲡⲓⲗⲁⲕϩ, Coptic pronunciation: [ˈpilɑk, ˈpilɑkh]) is an island-based temple complex in the reservoir of the Aswan Low Dam, downstream of the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Egypt.
Originally, the temple complex was located on Philae Island, near the expansive First Cataract of the Nile in Upper Egypt. These rapids and the surrounding area have been variously flooded since the initial construction of the Aswan Low Dam in 1902. With the construction of the modern dam in Aswan (1960 - 1970) a few kilometers upstream, this temple was going to face total flooding and was initially omitted from the Numbia Campaign project to rescue all temples in the area and avoid what had previously happened with the Aswan Low Dam and the Temple of Philae. Fortunately, the importance of the monumental complex, formerly known as the Pearl of the Nile, remembered for the description by Pierre Loti in his literary work Mort de Philae, led to further commitment from UNESCO member countries, which launched an international competition to save the monuments of Philae.
The solution proposed by a consortium of Egyptian designers prevailed, which involved dismantling the ninety-five monumental structures on the island and reconstructing them at a higher site, 12.40 meters above the original location, by leveling the nearby islet of Agilkia. The contract for the execution of the works was awarded by UNESCO in 1974, through the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, to two Italian companies: Condotte Acque from Rome and Mazzi Estero from Verona, later joined as Condotte-Mazzi Estero S.p.A. The two companies were tasked with documenting, dismantling, and restoring the Philae monumental complex, as well as transferring and reconstructing it at the new site on Agilkia Island. A third Egyptian company, the High Dam Company, which had previously built the Aswan High Dam, was assigned the task of draining the original monumental site and preparing the reinforced concrete foundations and landscaping of Agilkia. The Italian architect Giovanni Joppolo was entrusted with the supervision and responsibility for all operations under the Italian consortium's jurisdiction. The whole operation lasted from 1977 to 1980. The hieroglyphic reliefs of the temple complex are being studied and published by the Philae Temple Text Project of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna (Institute OREA).
