The 275-year rule of the Greek Ptolemaic Pharoahs was initiated by the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 305 BCE, and its second king, Ptolemy Philadelphus, had this great temple built on Philae Island in Nubia (Upper Egypt, paradoxically in the south) during his tenure (284-246 BCE). As he wanted the Egyptian people to love him as they did the previous Egyptian pharoahs of old , by showing them that he tpp believed in their great gods.
The Temple´s History
Philae is a Greek word that means “beloved,” and in Arabic it´s known as “Ans Al-Wugud.” During the Ptolemaic era, like any invader in Egypt, the kings tried to involve the Egyptian people by believing in their Egyptian Gods such as Isis, Osiris, and Horus. Therefore, Ptolemy II believed in the Egyptian goddess Isis and ordered to build Philae temple to her as well as her husband Osiris and their son Horus. You will see that the walls of the temple show us their myth of them. One wall shows Isis bringing Osiris back to life and then she gives birth to Horus. Besides, in another scene, Isis is mummifying God Osiris after his death.
The location of the Philae temple nowadays is on Agilkia Island in the middle of the River Nile in Aswan, in southern Egypt, just 500 meters from Philae Island, which was threatened with inundation by the construction of the Aswan Dam in 1972, UNESCO sponsored moving the temple to Agilka. Over the course of two years, workers first installed 3,000 steel plates at the bottom of the Nile at a length of 12 meters to form a temporary dam to retain water around the island; cut the temple´s stones into many pieces of up to 30 tons with an average of 20 tons; then reconstructed them on the new island (read more about it here).
The temple architecture is great as a great corridor was built. In addition, it is decorated with Corinthian pillars that have made it one of the great architectural sites. There is also a birth chamber for Isisi where you can see on the walls a scene of Isis breastfeeding Horus.
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There is also a small temple beside the Philae temple. It was dedicated to the worship of God Horus which was built by Ptolemy V.
Later in the roman other constructions were built such as the roman temple for King Trajan. It shows scenes of the king presenting wine to Goddess Isis and God Horus and presenting incense and the sacred water to God Osiris.
Philae temple sound and light show
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In the Sound and Light show Aswan, the Philae temple will be brought this magical temple will be brought back to life, especially the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. This significant temple is the most popular tourist spot in the 18th and 19th centuries. Enjoy an exceptional journey at the Philae temple Sound. And also Light show, which will steal your heart by revealing ancient secrets and mysteries.
You can check more from this link Sound and Light show.
The price of the Philae temple in Aswan for tourists is 200 Egyptian pounds while for Egyptian people 40 Egyptian pounds. Philae temple entrance fee for students is 20 Egyptian pounds only.
Temples between Luxor and Aswan
If you are planning to visit Luxor and Aswan, you must take a cruise between them. So, you can enjoy the natural scene with the temples. It really worth visiting, you will find other historical monuments such as:
- Abu Simbel Temples
- Valley of the Kings
- Temple of Hatshepsut.
- Colossi of Memnon.
- Karnak Temple.
- Temple of Horus.
- Temple of Kom Ombo.
Temples in Aswan Egypt
There are many temples in Aswan such as:
- Abu Simbel Temple.
- Philae Temple.
- Kom Ombo Temple.
- Khnum temple.
- Kalabsha Temple.
- Karnak Temple.
- Luxor temple.
- Deir el-Bahari Temple.
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