The Philae Temple | Temple of Isis
Philae Temple
Temple of Philae is named after the name "Philae," which is Greek for "beloved." The island lies at the southern end of Egypt as the last center of ancient Egyptian religion 4000 years ago! Philae was a sacred island and a major center of worship that was dedicated to the adoration of Isis, who, along with her husband Osiris and son Horus, are the three most important personalities in ancient Egyptian mythology.
The Temple of Isis is considered one of the most enduring ancient Egyptian temples; the temple functioned until the Byzantine King Justinian I (527-565 AD), who ordered the closure of all pagan temples, where a priest named Ismet-Akhom inscribed the last hieroglyphic text dating back to the fourth century AD (394 AD). The temple was converted into a church, and many of the temple's inscriptions were erased.
Priests would make their way solemnly through the sacred sanctuary of the Temple of Philae with incense and burnt offerings, and the statue of the god would be ceremoniously washed, clothed, and decorated in the temple, appropriately appealed to and loved until it was undressed and washed again, pulled out, and replaced in the sanctuary until the next morning.
Philae Temple through the Ages
The artifacts of Philae cover four major eras: the latter part of the Pharaonic era, the Ptolemaic era, the Roman era, and the Christian era.
Pharaonic period
The temples of Philae were originally built to worship the goddess Isis. Throughout the centuries, Philae gained such a special place in the cult that crowds of followers would gather to relive the story of the death and resurrection of Osiris.
Ptolemaic period
More than two-thirds of the remaining structures at Philae were built in the Ptolemaic period, during which time the island became a prominent pilgrimage site not only for Egyptians and Nubians but also for pilgrims from as far away as Anatolia, Crete, and the Greek mainland. Some of these pilgrims marked their presence with inscriptions on temple walls.
Roman period
Several Roman emperors made artistic and architectural contributions to Philae. While most of the architectural additions date back to the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the island continued to receive contributions to its temples until the reign of Caracalla as well as the triple arch built by Diocletian. In 298 AD.
Christian period
Christianity appears to have been present in Philae by the fourth century, at which time it coexisted with traditional Egyptian religion. According to the Coptic biography The Life of Aaron, Macedonius was the first bishop of Philae (early 4th century), who is said to have killed the sacred falcon found on the island, although contemporary experts have questioned the historicity of this account.
Despite the floods and vandalism, the Temple of Philae is one of Egypt's most magnificent sacred sites. The columns of its Hall of Columns are stunningly preserved, and sculptures such as the carvings in the musical scenes in the Temple of Hathor have retained much of their ancient beauty.
The temple was in danger of being submerged forever with the construction of the New Aswan Dam in 1960-1970, flooding the area. Fortunately, the Egyptian government and UNESCO worked together to pump out the dry area and relocate the entire temple, stone by stone, to a nearby island called Agilka, where it stands today.
