The Elephantine Island ¨The gateway to the south¨.

Where is Elephantine Island located?

The island is in the Nile, opposite the city of Aswan in Upper Egypt. Elephantine is known as the “gateway to the south”, as it was the southernmost city of Egypt and the starting point for Sudanese trade. Today, the island is the site of two Nubian villages.

What does its name “Elephantine” mean? 

The island was known in ancient Egyptian texts as “Abu” (meaning “elephant”), as the island was an important port for receiving African ivory extracted from elephant tusks. Then, in the Greek language, it became the word “elephas” (Elephas-ελέφας) meaning “elephant ivory”.

What are the points of attraction will visit on the island?

There are several interesting places to visit on the island, the oldest construction on the island took place in late prehistoric times and extended to the early Islamic era, i.e. it includes the history of ancient Egypt in all times and even the Greco-Roman era. The island has the Aswan Museum at the southern tip of the island.

The first temple belongs to the first and second dynasty, in the range of 2800 BC, and the second temple for the beginning of the sixth dynasty, ie within 2250 BC, and the third was built by Senusert, the first in 1950 B.C. 

There is also the temple of the god “Khnum”, which only the two pillars of the main entrance remain, and near it, there is a cemetery of rams for the same dynasty, also the kings of the 26th dynasty showed great interest in the island and established a stopover for the Nile, and after them the Ptolemaic kings and some Roman emperors whose names were recorded on the walls of the temples. 

On the door of one of the southern rooms of the temple, there is an inscription depicting Alexander II in the form of an Egyptian king, as he offers offerings to the various deities and his name is written in hieroglyphics, with the formula “Step-in-Ra-Mary-Amun” (chosen by Ra and loved by Amun).

The Elephantine Museum

The Elephantine Museum is located in the southeastern part of Elephantine Island. It includes antiquities dating from the Predynastic era, as well as some statues of kings and individuals, some mummies of rams, symbol of the god Khnum, architectural and decorative elements, several coffins, and tools of daily life for the ancient Egyptians, and some funerary paintings.

List of archaeological remains

The Temple to the god Jnum.

The Temple of Heqa-ib.

The small Pyramid of Elephantine, one of the pyramids of the Ancient Empire.

The nilometer.

Inscriptions engraved on rocks, from various periods.

The Nubian village in Aswan is an experience that no one should miss because while you are in the village you can enjoy, have fun and learn about the Nubian culture, traditions, food, clothing, and way of life. To reach the Nubian Village from Aswan, it is best to take a motorboat from the small port that will take him to Soheil Island where he will find this beautiful village on the west bank of the Nile. 

The mere experience of riding a motorboat or felucca in Aswan is extremely relaxing and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the Nile and its cool, fresh air. Another way to reach the village is to either take a car ride or hire a cab to take you there.

What is a Nubian village like?

Upon your arrival in the village, you will be treated to very colorful houses built according to Nubian architecture using mud bricks, which are a mixture of clay, water, hay, and sand. All of these materials are natural, making them less susceptible to house diseases, inexpensive and the clay structure of the bricks is also less affected by heat. 

Above each house is a dome-shaped ceiling, which distributes the sun’s heat evenly inside the house. In addition, Nubians love to decorate their houses with simple but delightful colors. Not only that, they usually draw shapes from Nubian culture on the walls of their houses, such as boats, camels, and palm trees.

When you enter a Nubian house, you will find nothing less than decent, friendly and welcoming people. They are the Nubians, famous for their dark skin and distinct Nubian language, which is unique and not to be confused with the Arabic language. Another interesting fact regarding the language is that they do not learn to teach outsiders the Nubian language.

The ancient Nubians were known for their archery skills, and since this skill is the ability to shoot arrows with a bow, the ancient Egyptians named their land “Ta-Seti,” which means “land of the bow.” These archery skills were the key component of the military strength of the Nubian rulers in May. 

It was common for warriors to be buried alongside their archery equipment. Historically, Nubians were known by another name, which was Kush, and there was the Kingdom of Nubia, located on the Nile River in southern Egypt and northern Sudan, a kingdom known for its rich gold deposits.

Nubian villages are known as very small and quiet places. The same is true for the interior of a traditional Nubian house. However, what is unusual is the extraordinary range of pets, the crocodile, but do not worry as these pet crocodiles are kept in cages. 

Both live and mummified crocodile bodies hung in Nubian homes and were highly admired. The Nubian people’s affection for the crocodile is based on the ancient Egyptian belief that the existence of a crocodile will protect them and their household from the evil eye. Other more normal animals you might find would be chickens and goats.

Activities in a Nubian village

Some of the activities you can take part in in a Nubian town are shopping in the Nubian stores where you can buy Nubian accessories, clothes, and bags. Filled with amazing colors and some Nubian symbols that are sure to attract positive attention when you are at home. 

Or you can buy some rare spices like cumin, cinnamon, curry and different kinds of teas. Spices are considered perfect souvenirs to take home from Nubia, as Aswan is generally known for its authentic spices. 

If you want to have a drink and rest and relax, you will find a number of beautiful cafes and restaurants with magnificent views of the Nile as you roam around these amazing villages. Camel riding is also an extremely interesting activity that you should try in Nubia. 

There are also many great activities for women and children. A good example of such activity is drawing henna tattoos on their bodies. In the village, there are many Nubian women who draw henna, which they make from natural herbs and oils. 

Another great place to pay a visit is the Nubian Museum. This museum contains many masterpieces that describe the Nubian culture, such as the tools they use, the clothes they wear, and the activities they have undertaken throughout history, and there are also some antiquities from the villages Islamic, Coptic, and Pharaonic eras.

People who visit the Nubian village can also see the palace of the famous Egyptian singer Mohamed Mounir, who is from Nuba. Most of the songs of the kings (also known as Mounir) are written in the Nubian language. The Nubians are known for their joyful songs and dances.

It is therefore one of the obligatory stops if you are planning a cruise on the Nile, as well as the cities of Esna and Kom Ombo. Both the temples of Edfu and Esna were built during the Greco-Roman period, so they are to be considered relatively recent.

Dedicated to the god Horus of Behedet, lord of Edfu, the Temple of Horus is the most famous monument of Edfu. The temple is oriented from south to north, measures just over 140 m in length, and occupies an area of approximately 7000 square meters.

A visit to the temple of Edfu gives you a clearer idea of the original appearance of the building when it was constructed about 2000 years ago.

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Egypt, navigate through the history of the temple of Edfu

Beginning in the 19th century, the village expanded partly inside the temple, and some houses were even built on its roof. Now the buildings have been removed, but the effects left by the previous buildings are still evident, the ancient perimeter of the village faces inside the temple complex, which is several meters below the current ground level.

The temple is in a particularly good state of preservation, precisely because it had been buried under the sand. The complex includes a pylon that was built by Cleopatra’s father during the first century B.C., which leads to an inner court and then to a hypostyle hall that precedes the sanctuary of Horus, the most important part of the temple. 

Edfu, Temple of Horus, the beauty of the temple

All these structural elements replicate the temple style in vogue during the New Kingdom, which can also be seen in the remains of other buildings in the area of Luxor and along the Nile Valley. The Temple of Horus at Edfu, however, remains one of the most complete and intact examples of this architectural style. Because of its completeness and state of preservation, it is the best example of the construction of a Ptolemaic temple in Egypt.

Edfu what to see and what is its history

The Temple of Horus in its present form was begun very late by Ptolemy III Euergetes I in 237 BC. Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II inaugurated it 95 years later, in 142 BC. The surrounding wall, the main courtyard, and the pylon were completed by Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus, who inaugurated the temple for the second and final time in 70 BC. With the installation of the wooden doors of the main entrance between the two pylons, the temple was officially finished in 57 BC. 

However, the initial core of the temple is much earlier; there are records of an early shrine at Edfu since at least the Third Dynasty. In total, it took 180 years to complete the construction and decoration of the Temple of Horus at Edfu. 

The construction of the Temple of Horus at Edfu

The sanctuary was the most sacred and important part of the temple. It contained the sacred images of Horus and Hathor, used in processions. Built of black granite, it is located at the rear of the temple and is one of the few remains of an older temple of Horus. The shrine was built by Nectanebo II (360-343 BC), about a hundred years before the construction of the present temple of Horus began. The door frame of the sanctuary is engraved with hymns that were sung in the morning before opening the bronze doors of the sanctuary to wake Horus and the other deities who slept in their chapels.

To the east of the temple is a circular well, located outside the surrounding wall. Reached by a flight of stairs that begins inside the enclosure, extends under the wall, and reaches the outside of the temple.

The well was essential for the water supply of the temple, necessary for daily purification practices. However, it was also a useful tool on a practical level to prevent the phenomenon of flooding, constituted a Nilometer, used to measure the height of the annual flooding of the river. The scales were carved on the wall of the inclined staircase to measure the rise of the water table

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The location of Aswan on the cataract has shaped its history even in modern times.

Even today it is worth seeing for all tourists in Egypt, famous for its beautiful landscape along the Nile and the Nubian culture, which also has a strong influence in southern Egypt. During the construction of the controversial High Dam in 1964, nearly 100,000 Nubians who lived along the banks of the river were displaced. Many of these people now live in and around Aswan and make a living from tourism, producing and selling traditional Nubian goods.

The mild climate, especially during the winter months, makes the area an ideal place to relax after a hectic sightseeing schedule. You should take enough time to just stroll around, walk along the river or sail past the islands on a felucca.

How to reach Asuuan from Cairo? You can travel to Aswan from Cairo by sleeper train or via plane. By sleeper train, it takes about 12-14 hours. This adventure starts around 8 am and the arrival is around 9p or 10 am. So this trip includes dinner the overnight stay in a separate cabin and breakfast the next day from the arrival. There are single and double cabins on the train. 

On the other hand, you can reach Aswan via airplane. The flight takes about one hour and 25 minutes. These flights are available every day with different dates around the clock. 

There are no direct flights from Germany, Austria, or Switzerland to Aswan. Most flights are from the desired departure airport to Aswan passing Cairo. It is recommended that you spend in Cairo e.g. 2 or 3 days in order not to miss the most important sights of Old Cairo and then fly to Aswan for the Nile cruise or excursions. 

It is also possible to start the trip from Marsa Alam on the Red Sea, then drive to Aswan via vehicle. This trip usually takes 5 or 6 hours. 

The Aswan sights

The unfinished obelisk 

The unfinished obelisk is the largest obelisk ever built when it would have been finished at a height of 41.75 meters, but when cracks were found, construction was stopped. A competent guide can bring Egyptian history closer.

Aswan Dam

Aswan Dam is made of stones, rock, clay core, and sand. The Nile flooded the fields, so this dam was built. In 1964, the largest dam was elevated to the eighth wonder of the world. About 2000 engineers helped in the construction. The following countries such as Russia, the USA, and France also helped financially. 

Philae Temple

Philae Temple was located on an island, but it was flooded. It was rebuilt on the island of Agilkia. You can reach this temple by motorboat. It contains many beautiful and breathtaking sights.

Botanical Garden and Nubian Museum

It was also called Kitchener Island or Gezieret ElNabatat. It is next to the big island Elephantine and can be reached only via motorboat and felucca. Mango, mahogany, and other trees are planted there. 

In the Nubian Museum, there are many interesting exhibits from the prehistoric times of Nubia as well as pharaonic Egypt, which are worth a visit.

Old Cataract Hotel

Located on the banks of the Nile, at the southern end of the Corniche el-Nil waterfront road, this hotel was opened before the turn of the century. The terrace overlooks Elephantine Island. Agatha Christie’s novel Death on the Nile, which was made into a movie, was written there. 

Aga Khan III and King Faruq of Egypt were guests there several times. In recent years, a very famous series was also filmed there. It is not easy that you book a room there because all tourists want to enjoy this experience.

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This civilization was almost destroyed by the construction of the High Dam, which caused the flooding of the ancient center of Nubia, and the subsequent forced relocation of over 100,000 people. The museum houses the collection of artifacts found in the Nubian region, and tells the story of the development of civilization in the southern Nile valley, from prehistoric times through the Pharaonic ages, the advent of Christianity and Islam, and finally the construction of the dam in the 1960s.

The Nubian question has become an issue of great political interest. In the race for the development of the country in the ’50s and ’60s, the Egyptian government did not adequately compensate nor plan the rehabilitation of the population affected by the consequences of the High Dam.  

The protection of the heritage of the Nubian culture was also neglected. A few international organizations were willing to relocate some of Nubia’s most important monuments to neighboring areas, such as the temples of Abu Simbel. Others were dismantled and shipped abroad as compensation for the aid received. The temple of Dendur now on display at the Metropolitan Museum in New York is one example.

The Nubian museum intended to make its contribution against this injustice, although it succeeded only in part, especially because in its exhibitions it still makes no mention of the consequences of the dam on the Nubian population; on the other hand, it is one of the only institutions that continue to provide a picture of the history of the region and this fascinating culture.

Of particular note are the traditional houses, salvaged from currently submerged areas.

The museum is located in the vicinity of the Fatimid cemetery, which contains a considerable number of small mausoleums dating back to the 9th century. Some of the tombs here belong to local saints and are decorated according to the motifs of traditional flags and are often visited by the local population. The cemetery is located next to the old granite quarry where the unfinished obelisk stands.  Almost 2 meters high, this would have been the largest obelisk ever carved in antiquity. Completed on three sides, it remained anchored to the bedrock when cracks were discovered along with its structure.

The Museum’s collections

In this small museum, many examples of Nubian art are collected and various moments of the daily life of this culture have been reconstructed. A large statue of Ramesses II towers over the entrance, welcoming visitors.

Walking through the halls of the museum you can admire various artifacts dating back to various periods, from the Egyptian period until the Islamic conquest of these territories. A splendid example of this period is a beautiful golden amphora, decorated with stylized Arabic inscriptions. The same amphora is represented in an Egyptian banknote.

The High Dam

Explore the High Dam, which he considers the most achievement of modern Egypt, when President Nasser announced his proposal to build the High Dam, the project began in 1960 and was completed in 1970. This gigantic building is 111 m high, 3.5 km long, and approximately 1 km wide! After its construction was completed, the area behind the dam was flooded with water and became Lake Nasser and is considered the largest artificial lake in the world.

Where exactly is the High Dam located?

In the city of Aswan, which gives its name to the reservoir, it is located on the right bank of the Nile, next to the first waterfall. Two dams have been built in this area: the new High Dam and the smaller and older Aswan Dam or Lower Aswan Dam.

When was the High Dam created and why?

It is a mega-construction, designed in 1956 and built between 1960 and 1970 by the Egyptian and Soviet governments, to end the floods that occurred in the lower Nile territory as a result of the sudden increase in the flow of the Nile.

What is the importance of the dam?

The dam provides Egypt with water and electricity in addition to the fishery. It has a hydroelectric plant, with 6 turbines, capable of producing 2.1 million kilowatts. Because raising the water to fill the dam caused loss and damage to many of the Nubian monuments, the Egyptian government, with the help of UNESCO, made great efforts along with other countries, to save the most important monuments in Nubia.

A report issued by the International Commission on Dams and Major Corporations. The report evaluated the High Dam at the top in all projects.

It said that it exceeded all architectural projects and was chosen by the International Commission as the largest engineering project built in the 20th century. It crossed all other giant projects such as the “Shack Lap Kok Airport” in Hong Kong and also the “Channel Tunnel” linking Britain and France.

The international report confirmed that the High Dam surpassed all 122 giant projects in the world. Due to the benefits, it has brought to Egyptians, it provided Egypt with its strategic water balance after the Nile water was one of the most famous floods lost in vain in the Mediterranean.

The High Dam is 3600 m long with a material volume of 43 million m³. At maximum capacity, it can discharge 11,000 m³ of water per second. It has additional emergency spillways for a volume of 5000 m³.

There is a reservoir, called Lake Nasser, 480 km long and 16 km at its widest point, with a surface area of 6,000 km² and containing between 150 and 165 km³ of water. It flooded a large part of lower Nubia and more than 90,000 people were displaced.

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The Temple of Kom Ombo Egypt

Where exactly is the Temple of Kom Ombo located?

The Temple of Kom Ombo is located in Kom Ombo, in the northern Aswan Governorate in southern Egypt, and was built during the reign of Ptolemy VI to worship the gods Sobik and Horus. Recently, the temple area has gained importance, restoration, and renovation.

The Temple of Kom Ombo is surrounded by fields of sugar cane and corn, making Kom Ombo a pleasant agricultural town that now houses many Nubians who were displaced when the water of the Nile flooded their villages after the construction of the High Dam.

When was Kom Ombo Temple built and why?

It was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty, 180-47 B.C. But some additions were made later during the Roman period. The now existing temple was started by Ptolemy VI Philometor (180-145 BC) at the beginning of his reign and has been modified by other Ptolemies, especially Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator (51-47 BC). A temple was already built in the New Kingdom to worship two gods, the god Sobek the crocodile, (god of fertility and creator of the world) and Horus the falcon god (Lord of the Two Lands), however, this site gained importance during the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

The texts and reliefs in the temple refer to the cult of liturgies that were worshipped in that period. The temple itself had a specific theology. The characters invoked the gods of Kom Ombo and its legend. Two themes were present in this temple: the universalist theme and the local theme. The two theologies combine to form the specific theology of this temple.

Temple of Kom Ombo

What is the significance of the Temple of Kom Ombo?

Kom Ombo consists of two temples, the Sobek Temple and the Hours Temple. The construction is unique because of its double design, meaning that there were duplicate entrances, courtyards, halls, chapels, and shrines for two gods: Sobek and Hours.

The temple is a testament to the importance that ancient Egyptian priests placed on the natural cycles and crocodiles of the Nile. The temple is visited to see mummified crocodiles, clay coffins, and spectacular reliefs on the walls.

Witness the glory of the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Sobek and Horus the Elder, and behold the awe of the hypostyle halls and sanctuaries Con Gate 2 Egypt.

What is the Obelisk?

Obelisk, a conical monolithic pillar, was originally erected in pairs at the entrances of ancient Egyptian temples. The Egyptian obelisk was carved from a single piece of stone, usually pink granite from the quarries of Aswan. It was designed to be wider at its square or rectangular base than at its pyramidal top, which was often covered with a gold and silver alloy.

The four sides of the obelisk shaft are adorned with hieroglyphs that characteristically include religious dedications, usually to the pharaonic gods, and commemorations of the rulers. 

While obelisks are known to have been erected as early as the 4th dynasty (c. 2575-2465 B.C.), no examples from that time have survived. The oldest surviving obelisk dates from the reign of Sesostris I (1918-1875 BC) and is located in Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo.

What characterizes the Egyptian obelisk?

The Egyptian obelisk was carved from a single piece of stone, usually pink granite. Other peoples, such as the Phoenicians and Canaanites, made obelisks after Egyptian models, although they are generally not carved from a single block of stone. 

In the Temple of Hatshepsut at Thebes, there are scenes of the transport of the obelisk down the Nile by barge. At its destination, workers set the shaft in place on its separate base, raising it to an earthen ramp and tilting it.

What is the Unfinished Obelisk?

The Unfinished Obelisk is the largest known obelisk found in ancient Egypt.

The Greatness of the Unfinished Obelisk

What is the height of the Obelisk and why is it Unfinished?

If its construction was completed, the height of the obelisk would reach approximately 41m, and the length of its square base is 4 meters, and its weight upon completion would be approximately 1168 tons. 

After the ancient Egyptian workers carved the obelisk on three sides, in preparation for removing it from the ground, they discovered a crack that made it unsuitable, so the workers stopped completing it, and the lower surface of the obelisk is still attached to the rock and is 42 meters long connected to the ground that would have been cut off.

Then, this obelisk would be the longest Egyptian obelisk, with a length of more than 41 meters and weighing more than 1,000 tons. But unfortunately, this obelisk was not completed due to a sudden crack appearing on its surface, so it had to be left unfinished. Had this not been the case, it would have been the largest piece of worked stone in the world.

What is the importance of the Unfinished Obelisk?

The importance of the unfinished obelisk is that it has shown us how the obelisks were made and how the huge hard stones were cut at that time; for example, some diorite stones were found, weighing up to 6 kg, which was used as hammers to separate and cut the sides of the obelisk and the effects of the hammers are visible in the body of the obelisk until now. 

This phase was to separate the obelisk before starting another process that consists of creating a trench around the obelisk that allows this gigantic mass of pink granite to be released completely.

The unfinished obelisk offers unusual theories about ancient Egyptian stone working techniques, with marks of the workers’ tools still clearly visible, as well as ocher-colored lines marking where they were working.

When was the obelisk created and why?

It is believed that the beginning of the work was during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut (1508-1458 BC), possibly to complement what would later become known as the Lateran Obelisk (which originally stood at Karnak, and was later taken to the Lateran Palace in Rome).

The unfinished obelisk is almost a third larger than any ancient Egyptian obelisk ever erected. Had it been finished, it would have measured about 42 meters and weighed nearly 1168 tons, a weight equivalent to about 200 African elephants.

In addition to the unfinished obelisk, an unfinished and partially worked obelisk base was discovered in the Aswan quarries in 2005. Some carvings and rock remains were also discovered that may correspond to the site where most of the famous obelisks were worked.

All these quarries in Aswan and the unfinished objects are an open-air museum and are officially protected by the Egyptian government as an archaeological site.

Enjoy seeing the unique Unfinished Obelisk, without barriers, with Gate 2 Egypt exploring the civilization and culture of the ancient Egyptians and discovering its magic.

Since 1979 they belong to the UNESCO world cultural heritage. From 1963 to 1968, the temples were dismantled from their original site and rebuilt 64m away to protect them from the water dammed by the dam. “Abu Simbel” is also the name of Abu Sunbul, the derivative of the original place name Ipsanbul.

The place Abu Simbel belongs to Aswan and is located south of Egypt, near Sudan. Aswan is 240 km further north and is connected to Abu Simbel by a road that crosses the Libyan Desert.

In 1813, the Swiss Jean Burckhardt discovered the two temples while exploring the area around Abu Simbel. However, after arriving at the temples, he only spotted the Temple of Hathor and a little later the Temple of Glory of Ramses, partly hidden under the sand. 

The Glory of Ramses Temple is an ancient Egyptian “House of Millions”, a temple for the cult of kings. Furthermore, it is dedicated to the gods Ptah, Amun-Re, and of course Ramses ll. Consecrated.

Ramses ll mainly wanted to represent with that time that he is equal with the other gods. The best way to illustrate this is with the 21 m high statues, which are located to the left and right of the entrance.

The place Abu Simbel belongs to Aswan and is located south of Egypt, near Sudan. Aswan is 240 km further north and is connected to Abu Simbel by a road that crosses the Libyan Desert.

In 1813, the Swiss Jean Burckhardt discovered the two temples while exploring the area around Abu Simbel. However, after arriving at the temples, he only spotted the Temple of Hathor and a little later the Temple of Glory of Ramses, partly hidden under the sand. 

The Glory of Ramses Temple is an ancient Egyptian “House of Millions”, a temple for the cult of kings. Furthermore, it is dedicated to the gods Ptah, Amun-Re, and of course Ramses ll. Consecrated.

Ramses ll. mainly wanted to represent with that temple that he is equal with the other gods. The best way to illustrate this is with the 21 m high statues, which are located to the left and right of the entrance.

Above the temple, the facade is a frieze showing 16 of the original 21 sacred monkeys, baboons. This helped the Swiss Burckhardt at the time to find the temple of glory Ram completely covered with sand, as it stood out of the sand.

Below the four statues are small statues for the representation of family members. Northeast of the temple of Ramses is the smaller temple, the temple of Hathor. Hathor was the goddess of the place Ishek, which is near the temple complex, but also the wife of Horus.

The six statues carved out of the facade represent Ramses ll and Nefertari. Theologically, the small temple is aligned almost the same as the Great Temple. 

The larger temple is aligned with the sun, so twice a year the sun shines into its lowest angles to illuminate a statue of Ramses and the gods to whom the temple is dedicated. The Abu Simbel Sun Festival is held on February 22 and October 22 each year. Several thousand people gather in the early hours of the morning to see this testimony of the knowledge and skill of the ancient Egyptians to align the temple so perfectly.

It is also possible to visit Abu Simbel on one of the Lake Nasser cruises Lake Nasser. These ships depart directly in front of the temples so passengers can see the temples in the moonlight and early morning light. 

Alternatively, you can visit Abu Simbel temples after your Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan or before the Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, where you can discover the historical sites and much more through a round trip or a beautiful Nile cruise aboard the Nile cruise ship.

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Angelika Island is not the original site of the temple. It once stood on the island of Philae, which is how this temple got its name, but before the island disappeared under the Nile waters, it was moved to its present location.

The temple complex dates back to the Greco-Roman period and is considered the last great sanctuary of ancient Egypt. In ancient times, this place was an important place of worship for Isis, the goddess of Egyptian mythology. 

Furthermore, this place was called the ‘Pearl of Egypt’ by travelers, because the temple complex stands out in the middle of the Nile. The main building of the temple complex is the temple of the goddess Isis. It stands on the west bank about in the middle of the island. 

Around it is other smaller buildings, such as the kiosk of Nectanebos I, the Trajan kiosk, the small temple of Hathor, the temple of Harendotes, the kiosk of Psammetich II, the Hadrian bastion, the temple of Imhotep, the chapel of Mandulis, and the temple of Arensnuphis-Dedun.

This beautiful Philae temple is one of the most picturesque in all of Egypt. Philae is located on the island of Angelika south of the ancient Aswan Dam and you will need to take a water cab to the island to get to the islands. 

The temple moved to its current location after the construction of the High Dam, which risked sinking it permanently. Careful reconstruction at the current site was carefully completed, carefully maintaining the original appearance and layout of the complex, and even adapting the island to its former location. Philae Temple Philae achieved fame during the Ptoloma dynasty as the center of the cult of the goddess Isis.

This Nile island near Aswan was one of the last remaining places where the ancient religion survived after the arrival of Christianity in Egypt and was not officially closed until 550 AD. The early Christians then used the main temple of the island as a church. 

This is the reason for the defacement of some of the figures of the ancient gods, as these Christians often tried to remove the pagan images from their newly claimed sanctuaries. The temple of Isis is the main feature here, but there are several other smaller temples on the island that are worth admiring.

There is a sound and light show at the Temple of Philae, as at all the other major ancient sites in Egypt, but the Philae Theater is generally considered the most impressive of these often over-the-top events. 

The ambiance of the island’s ruins bathed in floodlights is hard to describe, but this is a recommended way to spend an evening. Philae Temple See the most beautiful sights and sites in Luxor and Aswan aboard the Nile cruise. Fantastic tours await you, click here. 

Check out the most beautiful sights and places in Luxor and Aswan aboard the Nile Cruise. Fantastic tours await you, click here.