The Temple of Philae or Temple of Isis is an essential monument of ancient Egypt. Erected on the blue waters of the Nile, it is a living witness to many adventures of this essential country that is Egypt.
Construction
Around 380 BC the pharaoh Nectanebo Ier, originally from the city of Sebennytos, decides to lay the foundations of what will become the temple of Philae. At the beginning Philae did not resemble the grandiose construction that we know because originally there was only a simple arch. It was under the Ptolemies that the construction of Philae took on all its splendor. Indeed a temple will be built and dedicated to the goddess Isis, a building that can boast of having two 18-meter towers.
After centuries of tranquility for the temple, the latter will have to accept some Roman additions because in 30 BC, Egypt lost a war. A war waged by the Roman Emperor Octave. Cleopatra and Marc-Antoinne defeated and fallen die and the Egyptians will have to do with the Romans. With the Roman presence, Philae will be embellished with a colonnade and the kiosk of Trajan.
Its role in ancient Egypt
The construction of Philae is the result of an unlucky period for Egypt. Below Nectanebo Ier the Egyptians had to face 7 years without the Nile giving its usual floods. For the Egyptians the good health of the Nile is essential because it is essential for agriculture. The Egyptians, very believers, therefore founded Philae in homage to the gods, as a request to the latter not to relive this sad period.
Philae is not only a place of worship but also a platform for commerce. All the valuable goods which go up by the Nile must pass by Philae and particularly the gold.
It is also a small town. Archaeologists have discovered traces of ancient dwellings around the temple. It was therefore a small town with a few hundred inhabitants, mainly priests and traders.
Witness to various spiritualities
First erected in honor of Isis, the most famous of the goddesses, Philae had to accommodate several spiritualities over the centuries.
When the Christian era arrives, Egyptian mythology is considered pagan, therefore Isis is no longer really welcome in her temple. The Mediterranean basin gradually became Christianized over the decades and centuries. In Egypt those who represent Christianity are the Copts. The Copts will therefore convert the temple to the colors of Christianity. The walls of the temple are covered with lime to hide any trace of the goddess Isis and then flower in the rock of the Christian crosses which will be turned towards Jerusalem.
In 639 AD the Muslims invaded Egypt. The temple is no longer Christian, it is now Islamic. Then over the centuries he gradually fell into oblivion from the various spiritualities.
Saving the temple
In 1954, Egyptian Prime Minister Gamal Abdel Nasser began work on the Aswan Dam, a structure that would allow better irrigation of the waters of the Nile. Simply the construction of the dam makes the temple of Philae a shipwreck. Indeed, once the dam was completed in 1964, the temple found itself under water. But at the request of the Egyptian government UNESCO comes to the rescue.
Egyptian constructions are often pharaonic but preserving them is just as important. In 1970 Unesco took charge of the file. It is out of the question to see this almost 2000-year-old structure disappear like Atlantis. To save it, it will have to be moved to a nearby island stone by stone. But to move the stones it was also necessary to build a dam all around the site in order to empty the water and allow the workers and the archaeologists to accomplish the noble task of safeguarding the temple. A work of Roman thanks to which Philae can from now on live happy days under the sun of Egypt.
Rates and Info
Admission price: 100 EGP
Price of a guided tour : Between 70 and 200 euros depending on the guide