Cairo   1            
    Aswan   2 3 4 5      
    Luxor   6 7 8 9      
    Back to Cairo   10 11 12        

 

 
 
In the last few centuries BC, the Ptolemaic pharoahs of Egypt built a magnificent temple to the goddess Isis on the island of Philae just downstream from Elephantine. The island was believed to be one of the burial places of her husband, Osiris, and was held in special regard by both Nubians and native Egyptians. After the construction of the first Aswan dam at the beginning of the last century, the island was partly submerged for most of the year and in 1960 it was decided to dismantle the temple and rebuild it on the nearby (and higher) island of Agilkai.
 

Philae viewed from the river

 

Philae. Outer Court

Our guide Hany

 

Ellen, Heather, Karen and Maureen at Philae. The posts in the distance mark the site of the original island & temple (now underwater).

 
 
 

A view of the catarcts from the Aswan Low Dam

 
As was the case at Philae, the temples on the island of New Kalabsha have all been moved there from their original sites further upstream in Nubia. The main temple was built by the Roman emporer Augustus to honour the Nubian deity, Horus-Mandulis, along with Isis and Osiris. It is a fairly standard type, with a large formal gateway known as a pylon leading through a series of courtyards and halls to the sanctuary.
 

The Pylon of the Kalabsha Temple

 

Gayle reading an inscription

Painted Relief of the pharoah presenting offerings to Horus

 
Smaller temples from other sites were also moved to New Kalabsha, including the Ramessid ‘House of Ptah’ from Gerf Hussein and the Roman kiosk from Qertassi.
 

Kiosk of Qertassi

Steve in the House of Ptah

 
 
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Egyptian Temples

 

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