Philae
1-Introduction
2-Historical Background of Philae
3-The Saving of the Temples of Philae
4-The Monuments of Philae
The Island
Island at 1st cataract, south of Elphantine (Other islands Bigeh, Agilka Seheil).
Egyptian Pilak “remote place” or the “end”.
Greek Φιλαί (philae)
"Anas el-Wogoud“.
Original island: less than a quarter of a mile long, & about 400 feet broad
a number of temples and constructions.
the earliest still standing building is the temple of Nectanebo II.
Most constructions are from Ptolemaic period (especially Ptolemy II, V & VI)
No importance before late dynastic period.
Part of Lower Nubia.
Known as "the end" or the "island of the end“.
inscription made by the priests of Philae
Importance started when became a cult center of Isis from the Saite period.
Under the reigns of Ptolemy II and III the land of Dodekaschoinoi, meaning the land of the "twelve Schoinoi“ of which Philae was part.
Ptolemy V Epiphanes, put an end to this kingdom.
under the king Ptolemy VI Philometor this area was granted to the priests of Philae.
In the Roman period, the cult of Isis.
At beginning the southern tribes of Blemmys.
The negotiations with the Meroitic Kingdom at Philae.
Cult of Isis continued during the Christian period.
Officially closed down in the 6th century by Justinian
Later transformed into a church for Virgin Mary
.
The Rescue of the Temples
Aswan Dam in the period 1898-1902 to the north of the island.
it's heightening in the period 1907-1912.
Island was flooded & partly covered with water from December to April.
another heightening in the period 1929-1934, the island was covered with water most of the year decision
was made to build the High Dam in 1960.
Egyptian government made an appeal to the organization of UNESCO.
The project was to dismantle the temples and reconstruct them on the north island of Agilka 550 m away.
a coffer dam was made around the island in 1977.
stones were cut and marked by signs and numbers.
reused blocks were found.
450.000 cubic meters of granite were spread on the surface
The temples were reconstructed.
The new island of Philae was officially opened to the public in 1980.
the great temple of Isis, which was started by Ptolemy II.
Other important temples on the island of Philae are the temple of Harendotus (Horus the avenger) built by claudios (41-54)
a temple of Hathor.
small temple of Imhotep
temple of Mandolis
temple of Arsenofis (Nubian god) built by Ptolemy IV.
Kiosk of Trajan
Monuments of Philae
a-The Temple of Nectanebo II
b-The Temple of Arsenophis
c-The Outer Court and the Great Colonnade:
-The eastern colonnade
-The western colonnade
d-The Nilometer
The Temple of Nectanebo II
on the southern border of the island immediately.
the quay walls have disappeared (Only 6 of 14 columns).
The capitals are of the composite (Hathor & flowers).
screen walls.
two sandstone obelisks that once preceded the temple
Temple of Arsenophis
It lies in front to right (north-east) the temple of Nectanebo.
consists of a small shrine, a vestibule and a sanctuary.
Badly destroyed.
Scenes of Ptolemies IV & V.
To the north of this temple is a destroyed chapel of Mandolis
Court & Colonnades
from the temple of Nectanebo to the temple of Isis (100 m).
flanked by two rows of columns:
The eastern colonnade:
starts from the temple of Arsenophis up to the temple of Isis.
not finished.
Only 6 of the 17 columns are completed.
7 doorways made in the wall behind the east colonnade.
The 1st five doorways lead to the destroyed chapel of Mandolis.
The 6th and the 7th to the temple of Imhotep.
In the distance between the temple of Imhotep and the pylon of the temple of Isis is a gateway of Ptolemy II Philadelphus
The western colonnade :
31 columns support parts of the roof decorated with stars and winged vultures.
No two capitals are alike
The shafts of the columns mostly represent the Roman emperor Tiberius.
Windows in the wall behind
behind the western colonnade.
passage provided with a stairway that leads to a well
The Great Temple of Isis
i-The First Pylon:
ii-The Open Court:
iii-The Birth House:
iv-The Second Pylon:
v-The Main Temple of Isis:
vi-The Roof of the Temple:
vii-The Exterior Walls of the Temple of Isis:
The Great Temple of Isis
i-The First Pylon:
started by Ptolemy II and finished by Ptolemy III, decorated by Neos Dionysos.
Preceded by 2 red granite lion statues (Roman).
2 obelisks (England 1821 by Mohamed Ali) erected by Ptolemy VIII.
Reliefs of Ptolemy XII smiting enemies before Isis Horus & Hathor.
Doorway in the western tower to birth house.
Gateway of pylon bear scenes of Nectanebo.
ii-The Open Court:
Back of the towers are offering scenes of Ptolemy XII.
The east (right) side of the open court is occupied by a colonnade and 6 small rooms.
To the west, (left) side of the court is the Birth House
iii-The Birth House:
In the open court between the 1st and 2nd pylon.
a small hall leading into a vestibule, a small chamber, and a sanctuary.
The first hall has four columns.
Around the west-north and east sides runs a colonnade.
Scenes of Ptolemy VI, IX, XII + Tiberius.
Sanctuary: the central scene located on the northern wall, a falcon wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.
Below is a figure of Isis giving birth to her child in the marshes of Delta
iv-The Second Pylon:
large block of granite protrudes from the east side of the pylon (stele).
Ptolemy VI his wife before Isis Osiris and Horus (24th year).
granted Isis and her priests the land of Dodekschoinoi, or twelve Schoinos, on the eastern and western banks.
Ptolemy XII making offerings
v-The Main Temple of Isis
On the east side of the doorway is an inscription of the Bishop Theodorus.
Originally intended to be the court of the temple.
Ptolemy III, IX.
Followed by another hall converted into a church scene were covered with stucco and painted over, while crosses were carved.
Leads to 2 vestibules
Sanctuary: the red granite pedestal of the sacred boat inscribed with the names of Ptolemy III.
The walls are covered with scenes of Ptolemy II.
vi-The Roof of the Temple:
In the western wall of the first vestibule is a doorway that leads into an antechamber provided with 2 passages; one leads to outside the temple and the other leads to a flight of a staircase that leads up to the roof of the temple
4 rooms made in the 4 corners of the roof.
connected with the cult of Osiris showing his death and his resurrection.
vii-The Exterior Walls of the Temple of Isis:
dated to the reign of the Roman emperor Tiberius.
Hadrian's Gateway
to the west of the temple.
Temple of Harendotus
to the north of the Hadrian's Gateway (almost damaged).
no name of kings found.
some inscriptions indicate that it was raised by the Roman emperor Claudius.
Temple of Augustus lies in
the north of the island.
bad state of preservation.
inscription of the Praefectus Cornelius Gallus.
Further north is the remains of the Roman gate. It consists of three arches.
probably erected by the Roman emperor Diocletian.
Temple of Hathor
east of the second pylon.
Built in the reign of Nectanebo I (380-362 BC)
Hypostyle hall + sanctuary.
made by the king Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII dedicated to Hathor-Aphrodite +decoration of Augustus.
scenes that show the king playing the harp and a man playing on a double pipe
Kiosk of Trajan
known as "Pharaoh's Bed".
the rectangular shape that is surrounded by fourteen columns with screen wall.
Scenes are not finished (except 2).
They show the Trajan burning incense before Osiris and Isis in one scene while presenting wine to Isis and Horus.
-Hadrian's Gateway:
-Temple of Harendotus
-The Temple of Augustus:
-The Temple of Hathor:
-The Kiosk of Trajan:
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