 The temple ofIsis from Philae at its current location onAgilkia Island in the reservoir of theAswan Low Dam | |
  Philae Temple Complex Shown within Egypt | |
| Location | Aswan,Aswan Governorate,Egypt |
|---|---|
| Region | Nubia |
| Coordinates | 24°1′15″N32°53′22″E / 24.02083°N 32.88944°E /24.02083; 32.88944 |
| Type | Sanctuary |
| History | |
| Builder | Taharqa orPsamtik II |
| Founded | 7th or 6th century BC |
| Abandoned | 6th century AD |
| Periods | Third Intermediate Period orLate Period toByzantine Empire |
| Official name | Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, iii, vi |
| Designated | 1979 (3rdsession) |
| Reference no. | 88 |
| Region | Arab States |
ThePhilae temple complex (/ˈfaɪliː/;Ancient Greek:Φιλαί or Φιλή and Πιλάχ,Arabic:فيلة Egyptian Arabic:[fiːlæ],Egyptian:p3-jw-rķ' or 'pA-jw-rq;Coptic:ⲡⲓⲗⲁⲕ, ⲡⲓⲗⲁⲕϩ,[1][2]Coptic pronunciation:[ˈpilɑk,ˈpilɑkh]) is an island-based temple complex in the reservoir of theAswan Low Dam, downstream of theAswan Dam andLake Nasser,Egypt in Africa.
Originally, the temple complex was located onPhilae Island, near the expansiveFirst Cataract of theNile inUpper Egypt. Theserapids and the surrounding area have been variously flooded since the initial construction of the Aswan Low Dam in 1902.[3] 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 Nubia 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. However, 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.[4] 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.[5][6] The hieroglyphic reliefs of the temple complex are being studied and published by the Philae Temple Text Project of theAustrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna (Institute OREA).[7]
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| pꜣ jꜣ rk(ḳ)[8][1] inhieroglyphs | ||||||||
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Philae is mentioned by numerous ancient writers, includingStrabo,[9]Diodorus Siculus,[10]Ptolemy,[11]Seneca,[12] andPliny the Elder.[13] It was, as the plural name indicates, the appellation of two small islands situated in latitude24° north, just above the First Cataract nearAswan (EgyptianSwenet "Trade";Ancient Greek:Συήνη). Groskurd[14] computes the distance between these islands and Aswan at about 100 km (62 mi).
Despite being the smaller island, Philae proper was, from the numerous and picturesque ruins formerly there, the more interesting of the two. Before the inundation, it was not more than 380 metres (1,250 ft) long and about 120 metres (390 ft) broad. It is composed ofsyenite: its sides are steep and on their summits a lofty wall was built encompassing the isle.[15][16] It was reported too that neither birds flew over it nor fish approached its shores.[17] These indeed were the traditions of a remote period; since in the time of thePtolemaic Kingdom, Philae was so much resorted to, partly by pilgrims to the tomb of Osiris, partly by persons on secular errands, that the priests petitionedPtolemy VIII Physcon (170–117 BC) to prohibit public functionaries at least from coming there and living at their expense.
In the nineteenth century,William John Bankes took thePhilae obelisk on which this petition was engraved toEngland. When itsEgyptian hieroglyphs were compared with those of theRosetta Stone, it threw great light upon the Egyptian consonantal alphabet.
The islands of Philae were not, however, merely sacerdotal abodes; they were also the centres of commerce betweenMeroë andMemphis. The rapids of the cataracts were at most seasons not navigable, and the commodities exchanged between Egypt and Nubia were reciprocally landed and re-embarked at Syene and Philae.
The neighbouringgranite quarries also attracted a numerous population of miners and stonemasons. For the convenience of this traffic, a gallery or road was formed in the rocks along the east bank of the Nile, portions of which are still extant.
Philae also was remarkable for the singular effects of light and shade resulting from its position near theTropic of Cancer. As the sun approached its northern limit the shadows from the projecting cornices and moldings of the temples sink lower and lower down the plain surfaces of the walls, until, the sun having reached its highest altitude, the vertical walls are overspread with dark shadows, forming a striking contrast with the fierce light which illuminates all surrounding objects.[18]
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The most conspicuous feature of both islands was their architectural wealth. Monuments of various eras, extending from the Pharaohs to the Caesars, occupy nearly their whole area. The principal structures, however, lay at the south end of the smaller island.
The most ancient was a temple forIsis, built in the reign ofNectanebo I during 380–362 BC, which was approached from the river through a doublecolonnade. Nekhtnebef was hisancient Egyptian royal titulary and he became the founding pharaoh of theThirtieth and last native dynasty when he deposed and killedNepherites II.
For the most part, the other ruins date from the Ptolemaic Kingdom, more especially with the reigns ofPtolemy II Philadelphus,Ptolemy V Epiphanes, andPtolemy VI Philometor (282–145 BC), with many traces ofRoman work in Philae dedicated toAmmon-Osiris.
In front of the propyla were two colossallions in granite, behind which stood a pair ofobelisks, each 13 metres (43 ft) high. The propyla were pyramidal in form and colossal in dimensions. One stood between thedromos andpronaos, another between the pronaos and theportico, while a smaller one led into the sekos oradyton. At each corner of the adytum stood a monolithic shrine, the cage of a sacred hawk. Of these shrines one is now in theLouvre, the other in the Museum atFlorence.
Beyond the entrance into the principal court are small temples, one of which, dedicated to Isis, Hathor, and a wide range of deities related tomidwifery, is covered with sculptures representing the birth of Ptolemy Philometor, under the figure of the godHorus. The story ofOsiris is everywhere represented on the walls of this temple, and two of its inner chambers are particularly rich in symbolic imagery. Upon the two great propyla are Greek inscriptions intersected and partially destroyed by Egyptian figures cut across them.
The monuments in both islands indeed attested, beyond any others in the Nile valley, the survival of pure Egyptian art centuries after the last of the Pharaohs had ceased to reign. Great pains have been taken to mutilate the sculptures of this temple. The work of deletion is attributable, in the first instance, to the zeal of theearly Christians, and afterwards, to the policy of theIconoclasts, who curried favour for themselves with theByzantine court by the destruction ofheathen images as well as Christian ones.[citation needed] Images/icons of Horus are often less mutilated than the other carvings. In some wall scenes, every figure and hieroglyphic textexcept that of Horus and his winged solar-disk representation has been meticulously scratched out by early Christians. This is presumably because the early Christians had some degree of respect for Horus or the legend of Horus - it may be because they saw parallels between the stories of Jesus and Horus (seeJesus in comparative mythology#Iconography and#Dying-and-rising god archetype).
The soil of Philae had been prepared carefully for the reception of its buildings–being leveled where it was uneven, and supported by masonry where it was crumbling or insecure. For example, the western wall of the Great Temple, and the corresponding wall of the dromos, were supported by very strong foundations, built below the pre-inundation level of the water, and rested on the granite which in this region forms the bed of the Nile. Here and there steps were hewn out from the wall to facilitate the communication between the temple and the river.
At the southern extremity of the dromos of the Great Temple was a smaller temple, apparently dedicated toHathor; at least the few columns that remained of it are surmounted with the head of that goddess. Its portico consisted of twelve columns, four in front and three deep. Theircapitals represented various forms and combinations of thepalm branch, thedoum palm branch, and thelotus flower. These, as well as the sculptures on the columns, the ceilings, and the walls were painted with the most vivid colors, which, owing to the dryness of the climate, have lost little of their original brilliance.
The ancient Egyptian name of the smaller island meant "boundary". As their southern frontier, thepharaohs of Egypt kept there a strong garrison, and it was also a barracks for Greek andRoman soldiers in their turn.
The first religious building on Philae was likely a shrine built by PharaohTaharqa of the25th Dynasty, which was probably dedicated toAmun.[2][19][20] However this structure is only known from a few blocks reused in later buildings, which Gerhard Haeny suspects may have been brought over for reuse from structures elsewhere.[2][21]
The oldest temple to have undoubtedly stood on the island, as well as the first evidence of Isis-worship there, was a small kiosk built byPsamtik II of the26th Dynasty.[21][22]: 76–77 This was followed by contributions fromAmasis II (26th Dynasty) andNectanebo I (30th Dynasty).[19][20][21][22]: 88, 119–122 Of these early buildings, only two elements built by Nectanebo I survive– a kiosk that was originally the vestibule of the old Isis temple, and a gateway which was later incorporated into the first pylon of the current temple.[21][22]: 119–122
More than two thirds of Philae's surviving structures were built in the Ptolemaic era, during which the island became a prominent site of pilgrimage not only for Egyptians and Nubians but for pilgrims from as far asAnatolia,Crete, and the Greek mainland.[2][19] In this way, Philae gradually overtook Elephantine as the most important sanctuary in southern Egypt.[23] Some of these pilgrims marked their presence with inscriptions on the temple walls, including votive inscriptions known asproskynemata, as well as other types.[19] Among these are inscriptions left by three Romans (maybe ambassadors) at the first pylon in the summer of 116 BC, which represent the oldest knownLatin inscriptions in Egypt.[24]
Along with the various contributions of Ptolemaic rulers, Philae also received additions from the Nubian kingArqamani, who contributed to the Temple of Arensnuphis and themammisi, and his successorAdikhalamani, whose name has been found on astela on the island.[19][22]: 179 [25]: 161–162, 173 Some experts have interpreted these additions as signs of collaboration between the Nubian and Ptolemaic governments, but others consider them to represent a period of Nubian occupation of the region, likely enabled by the revolt ofHugronaphor in Upper Egypt.[19][25]: 161–162 Thecartouches of Arqamani were later erased by Ptolemy V, while the stela of Adikhalamani was eventually reused as filling under the floor of the pronaos.[22]: 179 [25]: 157, 162, 173
_chamber_of_the_temple_of_Philae.jpg)
TheRoman era saw an overall decline in pilgrimage to Philae, especially from Mediterranean regions, as evidenced by the reduced number of inscriptions.[19] Nevertheless, it remained an important sacred site, especially for Nubians, who continued to visit both as individual pilgrims and in official delegations from their government in Meroë.[19]
Several Roman emperors made artistic and architectural contributions to Philae. While most of the architectural additions date to theJulio-Claudian dynasty, the island continued to receive contributions to its temples up to the time ofCaracalla as well as a triple arch built byDiocletian.[2][27] In AD 298, Diocletian ceded Roman territory south of the First Cataract as part of an agreement made with the neighboringNobades, withdrawing the border to about the area of Philae itself.[19][28] The Kushite kingYesebokheamani made a pilgrimage to Philae in this period and may have taken over the Roman hegemony.[19]
During the Roman era, Philae was the site of thelast known inscription inEgyptian hieroglyphs, written in AD 394, and the last known Demotic inscription, written in 452.[29][30]
Christianity seems to have been present at Philae by the fourth century, at which point it coexisted with traditional Egyptian religion.[2] According to the CoptichagiographyLife of Aaron, the first bishop of Philae was Macedonius (attested in the early fourth century), who is said to have killed the sacred falcon kept on the island, though modern experts question the historicity of this account.[29] By the mid fifth century, a petition from Bishop Appion of Syene to co-emperorsTheodosius II andValentinian III indicates the presence of multiple churches on the island functioning alongside the pagan temples.[29]
Traditional worship at Philae appears to have survived into at least the fifth century, despite theanti-pagan discrimination at times. In fact, the fifth-century historianPriscus mentions a treaty between the Roman commander Maximinus and theBlemmyes and Nobades in 452, which amongst other things ensured access to thecult image of Isis.[2][19][29]
According to the sixth-century historianProcopius, the temple was closed down officially in AD 537 by the local commanderNarses the Persarmenian in accordance with an order of Byzantine emperorJustinian I.[31] This event is conventionally considered to mark the end ofancient Egyptian religion.[32] However, its importance has recently come into question, following a major study by Jitse Dijkstra who argues that organised paganism at Philae ended in the fifth century, based on the fact that the last inscriptional evidence of an active pagan priesthood there dates to the 450s.[2][29] Nevertheless, some adherence to traditional religion seems to have survived into the sixth century, based on a petition fromDioscorus of Aphrodito to the governor of theThebaid dated to 567.[28][29] The letter warns of an unnamed man (the text calls him "eater of raw meat") who, in addition to plundering houses and stealing tax revenue, is alleged to have restored paganism at "the sanctuaries", possibly referring to the temples at Philae.[28][29]
Philae retained significance as a Christian centre even after its closure as a pagan site. Five of its temples were converted into churches (including the Temple of Isis, which was dedicated toSaint Stephen), and two purpose-built churches were constructed on the north side of the island.[29][33]
The island of Philae attracted much attention in the 19th century. In the 1820s,Joseph Bonomi the Younger, a BritishEgyptologist and museumcurator visited the island. So didAmelia Edwards, a Britishnovelist in 1873–1874.
The approach by water is quite the most beautiful. Seen from the level of a small boat, the island, with its palms, its colonnades, its pylons, seems to rise out of the river like a mirage. Piled rocks frame it on either side, and the purple mountains close up the distance. As the boat glides nearer between glistening boulders, those sculptured towers rise higher and even higher against the sky. They show no sign of ruin or age. All looks solid, stately, perfect. One forgets for the moment that anything is changed. If a sound of antique chanting were to be borne along the quiet air–if a procession of white-robed priests bearing aloft the veiled ark of the God, were to come sweeping round between the palms and pylons–we should not think it strange.
— Amelia B. Edwards, A thousand miles up the Nile / by Amelia B. Edwards, 1831–1892, p. 207.
These visits are only a small sample of the great interest thatVictorian-era Britain had for Egypt. Soon,tourism to Philae became common.
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In 1902, theAswan Low Dam was completed on the Nile River by theBritish. This threatened to submerge many ancient landmarks, including the temple complex of Philae. However, the British prioritized the advancement of Modern Egypt at the expense of the complex.[34] The height of the dam was raised twice, from 1907 to 1912 and from 1929 to 1934, and the island of Philae was nearly always flooded. In fact, the only times that the complex was not underwater was when thedam'ssluices were open from July to October.
It was proposed that the temples be relocated, piece by piece, to nearby islands, such asBigeh orElephantine. However, the temples'foundations and otherarchitectural supporting structures were strengthened instead. Although the buildings were physically secure, the island's attractivevegetation and the colors of the temples'reliefs were washed away. Also, the bricks of the Philae temples soon became encrusted withsilt and other debris carried by the Nile.
The temples had been practically intact since the ancient days, but with each inundation the situation worsened and in the 1960s the island was submerged up to a third of the buildings all year round.
In 1960UNESCO started a project to try to save the buildings on the island from the destructive effect of the ever-increasing waters of theNile. First, building three dams and creating a separate lake with lower water levels was considered.[35]
First, a largecoffer dam was built, constructed of two rows of steel plates between which a 1 millioncubic metres (35 millioncubic feet) of sand was tipped. Any water that seeped through was pumped away.
| External images | |
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 large image with watermarks) | |
| Another view of the remnants |
Next, the monuments were cleaned and measured usingphotogrammetry, a method that enables the exact reconstruction of the original size of the building blocks that were used by the ancients. Then every building was dismantled into about 40,000 units from 2 to 25 tons, and then transported to the nearbyIsland of Agilkia, situated on higher ground some 500 metres (1,600 ft) away. To allow Agilkia island to accommodate the relocated temple, the island was leveled to match the old contours of Philae island as best as possible, which required the removal of the top of the island.[36] The transfer itself took place between 1977 and 1979.[citation needed]
Prior to the inundation, a little west of Philae lay a larger island, anciently called Snem or Senmut, but nowBigeh. It is very steep, and from its most elevated peak affords a fine view of the Nile, from its smooth surface south of the islands to its plunge over the shelves of rock that form the First Cataract. Philae, Bigeh and another lesser island divided the river into four principal streams, and north of them it took a rapid turn to the west and then to the north, where the cataract begins.
Bigeh, like Philae, was a holy island; its ruins and rocks are inscribed with the names and titles ofAmenhotep III,Ramesses II,Psamtik II,Apries, andAmasis II, together with memorials of the laterMacedonian andRoman rulers of Egypt. Its principal ruins consisted of thepropylon and two columns of a temple, which was apparently of small dimensions, but of elegant proportions. Near them were the fragments of two colossalgranite statues and also an excellent piece of masonry of much later date, having the aspect of an arch belonging to a church ormosque.
![Mammisi [37] (Birth-house). Brooklyn Museum Archives, Goodyear Archival Collection](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aS03_06_01_018_image_2406.jpg)
![Eastern colonnade in the outer or the forecourt [38]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aFile%2c_Asu%25C3%25A1n%2c_Egipto%2c_2022-04-01%2c_DD_99.jpg)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Philae".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
Islands ofEgypt | ||
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| Nile islands | ||
| Red Sea islands | ||
| Mediterranean Sea islands | ||
