View source for Philae temple complex

{{short description|Island in the Nile, Egypt}}
{{for|the ESA space probe|Philae (spacecraft)}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name           = Philae Temple Complex
| native_name    = {{langx|grc|Φιλαί}}; {{langx|ar|فيلة}}; {{langx|cop|ⲡⲓⲗⲁⲕ}}
| alternate_name = 
| image          = File:File, Asuán, Egipto, 2022-04-01, DD 93.jpg
| alt   = 
| caption        = The temple of [[Isis]] from Philae at its current location on [[Agilkia Island]] in the reservoir of the [[Aswan Low Dam]]
| map_type       = Egypt
| map_alt        = 
| map_size       = 
| relief         = 
| coordinates    = {{coord|24|1|15|N|32|53|22|E|display=inline,title}}
| location       = [[Aswan]], [[Aswan Governorate]], [[Egypt]]
| region         = [[Nubia]]
| type           = Sanctuary
| part_of        = 
| length         = 
| width          = 
| area           = 
| height         = 
| builder        = [[Taharqa]] or [[Psamtik II]]
| material       = 
| built          = 7th or 6th century BC
| abandoned      = 6th century AD
| epochs         = [[Third Intermediate Period of Egypt|Third Intermediate Period]] or [[Late Period of ancient Egypt|Late Period]] to [[Byzantine Empire]]
| cultures       = 
| dependency_of  = 
| occupants      = 
| event          = 
| excavations    = 
| archaeologists = 
| condition      = 
| ownership      = 
| management     = 
| public_access  = 
| website        = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| notes          = 
| designation1            = WHS
| designation1_offname    = [[International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia|Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae]]
| designation1_type       = Cultural
| designation1_criteria   = i, iii, vi
| designation1_date       = 1979 (3rd [[World Heritage Committee|session]])
| designation1_number     = [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/88 88]
| designation1_free1name  = Region
| designation1_free1value = [[List of World Heritage Sites in the Arab States|Arab States]]
}}

The '''Philae temple complex''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ai|l|iː}}; {{langx|grc|Φιλαί or Φιλή and Πιλάχ}}, {{langx|ar|فيلة}} &nbsp;{{IPA|arz|fiːlæ|lang}}, [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]]: ''p3-jw-rķ' or 'pA-jw-rq''; {{langx|cop|ⲡⲓⲗⲁⲕ, ⲡⲓⲗⲁⲕϩ}},<ref name = Gauthier30/><ref name=UCLA>{{Cite encyclopedia|last=Holger|first=Kockelmann|date=2012-04-24|title=Philae|url=http://escholarship.org/uc/item/1456t8bn#page-2|editor-last=Wendrich|editor-first=Willeke|display-editors=etal|encyclopedia=UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology|language=en|volume=1|issue=1}}</ref> {{IPA|cop|ˈpilɑk, ˈpilɑkh|Late Coptic}}) is an island-based temple complex in the reservoir of the [[Aswan Low Dam]], downstream of the [[Aswan Dam]] and [[Lake Nasser]], [[Egypt]].

Originally, the temple complex was located on [[Philae Island]], near the expansive [[Cataracts of the Nile|First Cataract]] of the [[Nile]] in [[Upper Egypt]]. These [[rapids]] and the surrounding area have been variously flooded since the initial construction of the Aswan Low Dam in 1902.<ref>"''Milestones in Archaeology: a Chronological Encyclopedia''", Tim Murray, P464, ABC-CLIO, 2007ISBN 1-57607-186-3</ref> With the construction of the modern dam in Aswan (1960 - 1970) a few kilometers upstream, this temple was going to face total flooding and was initially omitted from the Nubia Campaign project to rescue all temples in the area and avoid what had previously happened with the Aswan Low Dam and the Temple of Philae. However, the importance of the monumental complex, formerly known as the Pearl of the Nile, remembered for the description by Pierre Loti in his literary work Mort de Philae, led to further commitment from UNESCO member countries, which launched an international competition to save the monuments of Philae.

The solution proposed by a consortium of Egyptian designers prevailed, which involved dismantling the ninety-five monumental structures on the island and reconstructing them at a higher site, 12.40 meters above the original location, by leveling the nearby islet of Agilkia. The contract for the execution of the works was awarded by UNESCO in 1974, through the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, to two Italian companies: Condotte Acque from Rome and Mazzi Estero from Verona, later joined as Condotte-Mazzi Estero S.p.A.<ref>*{{cite book|title=Condotte nei Restauri|year=1992|publisher=L'Erma di Bretschneider|isbn=978-887-062-779-4 }}</ref> The two companies were tasked with documenting, dismantling, and restoring the Philae monumental complex, as well as transferring and reconstructing it at the new site on Agilkia Island. A third Egyptian company, the High Dam Company, which had previously built the Aswan High Dam, was assigned the task of draining the original monumental site and preparing the reinforced concrete foundations and landscaping of Agilkia. The Italian architect Giovanni Joppolo was entrusted with the supervision and responsibility for all operations under the Italian consortium's jurisdiction. The whole operation lasted from 1977 to 1980.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.archeologiaviva.it/5409/egitto-cosi-salvai-i-monumenti-di-file/ | title=Egitto: Così salvai i monumenti di File &#124; }}</ref><ref>*{{cite book|title=Remembering the "Nubia Campaign"|year=2024|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-900-471-394-9}}</ref> The hieroglyphic reliefs of the temple complex are being studied and published by the Philae Temple Text Project of the [[Austrian Academy of Sciences]], Vienna (Institute OREA).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.orea.oeaw.ac.at/en/research/stand-alone/the-temple-inscriptions-from-philae/ | title=ÖAI }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Philae temple.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Panoramic view of the Philae Temple from south, at its current location on [[Agilkia Island]]]]
{{hiero|pꜣ jꜣ rk(ḳ)<ref name = Budge951>{{cite book |last1=Wallis Budge |first1=E. A. |title=An Egyptian hieroglyphic dictionary: with an index of English words, king list and geological list with indexes, list of hieroglyphic characters, coptic and semitic alphabets, etc. |volume=II |date=1920 |publisher=[[John Murray (publishing house)|John Murray]] |page=951 |url=https://archive.org/details/egyptianhierogly02budguoft/page/951}}</ref><ref name = Gauthier30>{{cite book |last1=Gauthier |first1=Henri |title=Dictionnaire des Noms Géographiques Contenus dans les Textes Hiéroglyphiques Vol. 1 |date=1925 |page=30 |url=https://archive.org/details/Gauthier1925_1/page/n21}}</ref>|<hiero>pA-iAt:r-k:t*niwt</hiero> '''or''' <hiero>p:y-iAt:r-q:niwt</hiero>|era=default|align=right}}

Philae is mentioned by numerous ancient writers, including [[Strabo]],<ref>i. p. 40, xvii. pp. 803, 818, 820</ref> [[Diodorus Siculus]],<ref>i. 22</ref> [[Ptolemy]],<ref>iv. 5. § 74</ref> [[Seneca the Younger|Seneca]],<ref>''Quaest. Nat.'' iv. 1</ref> and [[Pliny the Elder]].<ref>v. 9. s. 10</ref> It was, as the plural name indicates, the appellation of two small islands situated in latitude [[24th parallel north|24° north]], just above the First Cataract near [[Aswan]] (Egyptian ''Swenet'' "Trade"; {{langx|grc|Συήνη}}). Groskurd<ref>''Strab.'' vol. iii. p. 399</ref> computes the distance between these islands and Aswan at about {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}}.

Despite being the smaller island, Philae proper was, from the numerous and picturesque ruins formerly there, the more interesting of the two. Before the inundation, it was not more than {{convert|380|m}} long and about {{convert|120|m}} broad. It is composed of [[syenite]]: its sides are steep and on their summits a lofty wall was built encompassing the isle. <ref>{{cite book |author=Plutarch |author-link=Plutarch |title=Moralia |editor-first=Gregorius N. |editor-last=Bernardakis |place=Leipzig |publisher=Teubner |year=1889 |volume=2| chapter=De Iside et Osiride 359b |chapter-url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0238%3Astephpage%3D359b|title-link=Moralia}} {{cite book |author=Diodorus |author-link=Diodorus Siculus |title=Bibliotheca Historica |volume=1-2 |editor1-first=Immanuel |editor1-last=Bekker |editor1-link=August Immanuel Bekker |editor2-first=Ludwig |editor2-last=Dindorf |editor2-link=Karl Wilhelm Dindorf#Ludwig Dindorf |editor3-first=Friedrich |editor3-last=Vogel |publisher=In aedibus [[Bibliotheca Teubneriana |B. G. Teubneri]] |place=Leipzig |year=1888 |chapter=I.22.6 |chapter-url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0540%3Abook%3D1%3Achapter%3D22%3Asection%3D6 |title-link=Bibliotheca Historica}}</ref><ref>{{LSJ|a)/batos|ἄβατος|ref}}.</ref> It was reported too that neither birds flew over it nor fish approached its shores.<ref>Seneca. ''Quaest. Nat.'' iv. 2.</ref> These indeed were the traditions of a remote period; since in the time of the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]], Philae was so much resorted to, partly by pilgrims to the tomb of Osiris, partly by persons on secular errands, that the priests petitioned [[Ptolemy VIII Physcon|Ptolemy&nbsp;VIII Physcon]] (170–117 BC) to prohibit public functionaries at least from coming there and living at their expense.

In the nineteenth century, [[William John Bankes]] took the [[Philae obelisk]] on which this petition was engraved to [[England]]. When its [[Egyptian hieroglyphs]] were compared with those of the [[Rosetta Stone]], it threw great light upon the Egyptian consonantal alphabet.

The islands of Philae were not, however, merely sacerdotal abodes; they were also the centres of commerce between [[Meroë]] and [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]. The rapids of the cataracts were at most seasons not navigable, and the commodities exchanged between Egypt and Nubia were reciprocally landed and re-embarked at Syene and Philae.

The neighbouring [[granite]] quarries also attracted a numerous population of miners and stonemasons. For the convenience of this traffic, a gallery or road was formed in the rocks along the east bank of the Nile, portions of which are still extant.

Philae also was remarkable for the singular effects of light and shade resulting from its position near the [[Tropic of Cancer]]. As the sun approached its northern limit the shadows from the projecting cornices and moldings of the temples sink lower and lower down the plain surfaces of the walls, until, the sun having reached its highest altitude, the vertical walls are overspread with dark shadows, forming a striking contrast with the fierce light which illuminates all surrounding objects.<ref>Ritter, ''Erdkunde'', vol. i. p. 680, seq.</ref>

==Construction==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
The most conspicuous feature of both islands was their architectural wealth. Monuments of various eras, extending from the Pharaohs to the Caesars, occupy nearly their whole area. The principal structures, however, lay at the south end of the smaller island.

The most ancient was a temple for [[Isis]], built in the reign of [[Nectanebo I|Nectanebo&nbsp;I]] during 380–362 BC, which was approached from the river through a double [[colonnade]]. Nekhtnebef was his [[ancient Egyptian royal titulary]] and he became the founding pharaoh of the [[Thirtieth Dynasty of Egypt|Thirtieth]] and last native dynasty when he deposed and killed [[Nepherites II|Nepherites&nbsp;II]].

For the most part, the other ruins date from the Ptolemaic Kingdom, more especially with the reigns of [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy&nbsp;II Philadelphus]], [[Ptolemy V Epiphanes|Ptolemy&nbsp;V Epiphanes]], and [[Ptolemy VI Philometor|Ptolemy&nbsp;VI Philometor]] (282–145 BC), with many traces of [[Egypt (Roman province)|Roman]] work in Philae dedicated to [[Amun|Ammon]]-[[Osiris]].

In front of the propyla were two colossal [[lion]]s in granite, behind which stood a pair of [[obelisk]]s, each {{convert|13|m}} high. The propyla were pyramidal in form and colossal in dimensions. One stood between the [[wikt:dromos|dromos]] and [[Portico#Pronaos|pronaos]], another between the pronaos and the [[portico]], while a smaller one led into the sekos or [[adyton]]. At each corner of the adytum stood a monolithic shrine, the cage of a sacred hawk. Of these shrines one is now in the [[Louvre]], the other in the Museum at [[Florence]].

Beyond the entrance into the principal court are small temples, one of which, dedicated to Isis, Hathor, and a wide range of deities related to [[midwifery]], is covered with sculptures representing the birth of Ptolemy Philometor, under the figure of the god [[Horus]]. The story of [[Osiris]] is everywhere represented on the walls of this temple, and two of its inner chambers are particularly rich in symbolic imagery. Upon the two great propyla are Greek inscriptions intersected and partially destroyed by Egyptian figures cut across them.

The monuments in both islands indeed attested, beyond any others in the Nile valley, the survival of pure Egyptian art centuries after the last of the Pharaohs had ceased to reign. Great pains have been taken to mutilate the sculptures of this temple. The work of deletion is attributable, in the first instance, to the zeal of the [[early Christianity|early Christians]], and afterwards, to the policy of the [[iconoclasm|Iconoclasts]], who curried favour for themselves with the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine court]] by the destruction of {{linktext|heathen}} images as well as Christian ones.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} Images/icons of Horus are often less mutilated than the other carvings. In some wall scenes, every figure and hieroglyphic text ''except'' that of Horus and his winged solar-disk representation has been meticulously scratched out by early Christians. This is presumably because the early Christians had some degree of respect for Horus or the legend of Horus - it may be because they saw parallels between the stories of Jesus and Horus (see [[Jesus in comparative mythology#Iconography]] and [[Jesus in comparative mythology#Dying-and-rising god archetype|#Dying-and-rising god archetype]]).

The soil of Philae had been prepared carefully for the reception of its buildings&ndash;being leveled where it was uneven, and supported by masonry where it was crumbling or insecure. For example, the western wall of the Great Temple, and the corresponding wall of the dromos, were supported by very strong foundations, built below the pre-inundation level of the water, and rested on the granite which in this region forms the bed of the Nile. Here and there steps were hewn out from the wall to facilitate the communication between the temple and the river.

At the southern extremity of the dromos of the Great Temple was a smaller temple, apparently dedicated to [[Hathor]]; at least the few columns that remained of it are surmounted with the head of that goddess. Its portico consisted of twelve columns, four in front and three deep. Their [[capital (architecture)|capital]]s represented various forms and combinations of the [[palm branch (symbol)|palm branch]], the [[Hyphaene thebaica|doum palm]] branch, and the [[Nymphaea caerulea|lotus flower]]. These, as well as the sculptures on the columns, the ceilings, and the walls were painted with the most vivid colors, which, owing to the dryness of the climate, have lost little of their original brilliance.

==History==
===Pharaonic era===
[[File:S10.08 Philae, image 9610.jpg|thumbnail|right|A sphinx in Philae]]
The ancient Egyptian name of the smaller island meant "boundary". As their southern frontier, the [[pharaoh]]s of Egypt kept there a strong garrison, and it was also a barracks for Greek and [[Roman Empire|Roman]] soldiers in their turn.

The first religious building on Philae was likely a shrine built by Pharaoh [[Taharqa]] of the [[Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt|25th Dynasty]], which was probably dedicated to [[Amun]].<ref name=UCLA/><ref name=pilgrimage>{{cite book|editor-last=Frankfurter|editor-first=David|section=Island of the Extremity: Space, Language, and Power in the Pilgrimage Traditions of Philae|last=Rutherford|first=Ian|title=Pilgrimage and Holy Space in Late Antique Egypt|publisher=Brill|location=Boston|year=1998|pages=229–256}}</ref><ref name=OxfordEncyclopedia>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Lloyd|first=Alan B.|title=Philae|editor-last=Redford|editor-first=Donald|encyclopedia=The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt|volume=3|pages=40–44|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|year=2001|isbn=0-19-513823-6}}</ref> However this structure is only known from a few blocks reused in later buildings, which Gerhard Haeny suspects may have been brought over for reuse from structures elsewhere.<ref name=UCLA/><ref name=architectural>{{cite journal|url=http://www.ifao.egnet.net/bifao/085/18/|last=Haeny|first=Gerhard|title=A Short Architectural History of Philae|journal=[[Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale]]|year=1985|volume=85|pages=197–233}}</ref>

The oldest temple to have undoubtedly stood on the island, as well as the first evidence of Isis-worship there, was a small kiosk built by [[Psamtik II|Psamtik&nbsp;II]] of the [[Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt|26th Dynasty]].<ref name=architectural/><ref name=pharaohs>{{cite book|last=Arnold|first=Dieter|title=Temples of the Last Pharaohs|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195126334|url-access=registration|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|year=1999|isbn=0-19-512633-5}}</ref>{{rp|76–77}} This was followed by contributions from [[Amasis II|Amasis&nbsp;II]] (26th Dynasty) and [[Nectanebo I|Nectanebo&nbsp;I]] ([[Thirtieth Dynasty of Egypt|30th Dynasty]]).<ref name=pilgrimage/><ref name=OxfordEncyclopedia/><ref name=architectural/><ref name=pharaohs/>{{rp|88,119–122}} Of these early buildings, only two elements built by Nectanebo&nbsp;I survive– a kiosk that was originally the vestibule of the old Isis temple, and a gateway which was later incorporated into the first pylon of the current temple.<ref name=architectural/><ref name=pharaohs/>{{rp|119–122}}

===Ptolemaic era===
More than two thirds of Philae's surviving structures were built in the Ptolemaic era, during which the island became a prominent site of pilgrimage not only for Egyptians and Nubians but for pilgrims from as far as [[Anatolia]], [[Crete]], and the Greek mainland.<ref name=UCLA/><ref name=pilgrimage/> In this way, Philae gradually overtook Elephantine as the most important sanctuary in southern Egypt.<ref>Pfeiffer, Stefan: ''Griechische und lateinische Inschriften zum Ptolemäerreich und zur römischen Provinz Aegyptus.'' Münster: Lit, 2015, p. 53.</ref> Some of these pilgrims marked their presence with inscriptions on the temple walls, including votive inscriptions known as ''proskynemata'', as well as other types.<ref name=pilgrimage/> Among these are inscriptions left by three Romans (maybe ambassadors) at the first pylon in the summer of 116&nbsp;BC, which represent the oldest known [[Latin]] inscriptions in Egypt.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pfeiffer| first=Stefan|title=Griechische und lateinische Inschriften zum Ptolemäerreich und zur römischen Provinz Aegyptus|series=Einführungen und Quellentexte zur Ägyptologie|volume=9|publisher=Lit|location=Münster|year=2015|language=German|pages=154–156}}</ref>

Along with the various contributions of Ptolemaic rulers, Philae also received additions from the Nubian king [[Arqamani]], who contributed to the Temple of Arensnuphis and the [[mammisi]], and his successor [[Adikhalamani]], whose name has been found on a [[stela]] on the island.<ref name=pilgrimage/><ref name=pharaohs/>{{rp|179}}<ref name=Hölbl>{{cite book|last=Hölbl|first=Günther|title=A History of the Ptolemaic Empire|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|year=2001|isbn=0-415-23489-1}}</ref>{{rp|161–162,173}} Some experts have interpreted these additions as signs of collaboration between the Nubian and Ptolemaic governments, but others consider them to represent a period of Nubian occupation of the region, likely enabled by the revolt of [[Hugronaphor]] in Upper Egypt.<ref name=pilgrimage/><ref name=Hölbl/>{{rp|161–162}}  The [[cartouche]]s of Arqamani were later erased by Ptolemy&nbsp;V, while the stela of Adikhalamani was eventually reused as filling under the floor of the pronaos.<ref name=pharaohs/>{{rp|179}}<ref name=Hölbl/>{{rp|157,162,173}}

===Roman era===
{{Wide image|The Meroitic ("Ethiopian") chamber of the temple of Philae.jpg|1400px|A relief from the so-called "Meroitic chamber" at Philae, showing in two processions a Kushite diplomatic mission sent by King [[Talakhidamani]], perhaps around 260 or later, around 300<ref name=JK>Josefine Kuckertz (2021), [http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/viewItem.do?ark=21198/zz002kp3mv "Meroe and Egypt"], in Wolfram Grajetzki, [[Solange Ashby]] and Willeke Wendrich (eds.), ''UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology'', Los Angeles.</ref>|38%|right}}

The [[Egypt (Roman province)|Roman era]] saw an overall decline in pilgrimage to Philae, especially from Mediterranean regions, as evidenced by the reduced number of inscriptions.<ref name=pilgrimage/> Nevertheless, it remained an important sacred site, especially for Nubians, who continued to visit both as individual pilgrims and in official delegations from their government in Meroë.<ref name=pilgrimage/>

Several Roman emperors made artistic and architectural contributions to Philae. While most of the architectural additions date to the [[Julio-Claudian dynasty]], the island continued to receive contributions to its temples up to the time of [[Caracalla]] as well as a triple arch built by [[Diocletian]].<ref name=UCLA/><ref>{{cite book|last=Bagnall|first=Roger S.|author-link=Roger S. Bagnall|title=Egypt in Late Antiquity|publisher=Princeton University Press|location=Princeton|year=1993|pages=262–263|isbn=0-691-06986-7}}</ref> In AD&nbsp;298, Diocletian ceded Roman territory south of the First Cataract as part of an agreement made with the neighboring [[Nobatia|Nobades]], withdrawing the border to about the area of Philae itself.<ref name=pilgrimage/><ref name=Justinian>{{cite journal| last=Dijkstra|first=Jitse H.F.|title=A Cult of Isis at Philae after Justinian? Reconsidering 'P. Cair. Masp.' I 67004|journal=Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik|year=2004|volume=146|pages=137–154|jstor=20191757}}</ref> The Kushite king [[Yesebokheamani]] made a pilgrimage to Philae in this period and may have taken over the Roman hegemony.<ref name=pilgrimage/>

During the Roman era, Philae was the site of the [[Graffito of Esmet-Akhom|last known inscription]] in [[Egyptian hieroglyphs]], written in AD&nbsp;394, and the last known Demotic inscription, written in 452.<ref name=monasticism>{{cite book|last=Moawad|first=Samuel|section=Christianity on Philae| editor1-last=Gabra|editor1-first=Gawdat|editor1-link=Gawdat Gabra|editor2-last=Takla|editor2-first=Hany N.|title=Christianity and Monasticism in Aswan and Nubia|series=Christianity and Monasticism in Egypt|publisher=American University in Cairo Press|location=Cairo|year=2013|pages=27–38|isbn=978-977-416-561-0}}</ref><ref name='Aldred_3rd'>{{cite book |last1=Aldred
|first1=Cyril 
|author-link=Cyril Aldred
|year=1998
|orig-year=1961
|editor1-last=Dodson
|editor1-first=Aidan
|title=The Egyptians
|edition=3rd Revised
|location=London, UK
|publisher=Thames & Hudson
|publication-date=1998
|page=14
|isbn=9780500280362
}}</ref>

====Christianization====
[[File:Philae copt altar.JPG|thumb|Christian altar in the first hypostyle hall at Philae temple complex]]
Christianity seems to have been present at Philae by the fourth century, at which point it coexisted with traditional Egyptian religion.<ref name=UCLA/> According to the Coptic [[hagiography]] ''Life of Aaron'', the first bishop of Philae was Macedonius (attested in the early fourth century), who is said to have killed the sacred falcon kept on the island, though modern experts question the historicity of this account.<ref name=monasticism/> By the mid fifth century, a petition from Bishop Appion of Syene to co-emperors [[Theodosius II|Theodosius&nbsp;II]] and [[Valentinian III|Valentinian&nbsp;III]] indicates the presence of multiple churches on the island functioning alongside the pagan temples.<ref name=monasticism/>

Traditional worship at Philae appears to have survived into at least the fifth century, despite the [[Persecution of pagans in the early Byzantine Empire|anti-pagan discrimination]] at times. In fact, the fifth-century historian [[Priscus]] mentions a treaty between the Roman commander Maximinus and the [[Blemmyes]] and Nobades in 452, which amongst other things ensured access to the [[cult image]] of Isis.<ref name=UCLA/><ref name=pilgrimage/><ref name=monasticism/>

According to the sixth-century historian [[Procopius]], the temple was closed down officially in AD&nbsp;537 by the local commander [[Narses]] the Persarmenian in accordance with an order of Byzantine emperor [[Justinian I|Justinian&nbsp;I]].<ref>[[Procopius]] ''Bell. Pers.'' 1.19.37</ref> This event is conventionally considered to mark the end of [[ancient Egyptian religion]].<ref name="Fletcher_2015_History_Weekend">{{cite AV media
 | people=Joann Fletcher
 | year=2016
 | title=The amazing history of Egypt
 | medium=podcast
 | url=http://www.historyextra.com/podcast/history-Egypt-Joann-Fletcher
 | access-date=17 Jan 2016
 | format=MP3
 | time=53:46
 | publisher=BBC History Magazine
}}</ref> However, its importance has recently come into question, following a major study by Jitse Dijkstra who argues that organised paganism at Philae ended in the fifth century, based on the fact that the last inscriptional evidence of an active pagan priesthood there dates to the 450s.<ref name=UCLA/><ref name=monasticism/> Nevertheless, some adherence to traditional religion seems to have survived into the sixth century, based on a petition from [[Dioscorus of Aphrodito]] to the governor of the [[Thebaid]] dated to 567.<ref name=Justinian/><ref name=monasticism/> The letter warns of an unnamed man (the text calls him "eater of raw meat") who, in addition to plundering houses and stealing tax revenue, is alleged to have restored paganism at "the sanctuaries", possibly referring to the temples at Philae.<ref name=Justinian/><ref name=monasticism/>

Philae retained significance as a Christian centre even after its closure as a pagan site. Five of its temples were converted into churches (including the Temple of Isis, which was dedicated to [[Saint Stephen]]), and two purpose-built churches were constructed on the north side of the island.<ref name=monasticism/><ref>{{cite thesis|last1=Foertmeyer |first1=Victoria Ann |type=PhD|title=Tourism in Graeco-Roman Egypt |date=1989 |publisher=Princeton University|page=34}}</ref>

===1800s===
The island of Philae attracted much attention in the 19th century. In the 1820s, [[Joseph Bonomi the Younger]], a British [[Egyptologist]] and museum [[curator]] visited the island.  So did [[Amelia Edwards]], a British [[novelist]] in 1873&ndash;1874.
{{blockquote|The approach by water is quite the most beautiful. Seen from the level of a small boat, the island, with its palms, its colonnades, its pylons, seems to rise out of the river like a mirage. Piled rocks frame it on either side, and the purple mountains close up the distance. As the boat glides nearer between glistening boulders, those sculptured towers rise higher and even higher against the sky. They show no sign of ruin or age. All looks solid, stately, perfect. One forgets for the moment that anything is changed. If a sound of antique chanting were to be borne along the quiet air&ndash;if a procession of white-robed priests bearing aloft the veiled ark of the God, were to come sweeping round between the palms and pylons&ndash;we should not think it strange.|sign=Amelia B. Edwards|source=A thousand miles up the Nile / by Amelia B. Edwards, 1831–1892, p. 207.}}

These visits are only a small sample of the great interest that [[Victorian era|Victorian-era]] Britain had for Egypt.  Soon, [[tourism]] to Philae became common.

===1900s===
====Aswan Low Dam====
[[File:Philae (1906) - TIMEA.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Philae flooded by the [[Aswan Low Dam]] in 1906]]
[[File:Kioske of Phylae on the Flood.jpg|thumb|left|Kiosk of Emperor Trajan on Philae Island before relocation]]
[[file:The temple of Philae.jpg|thumb|right|The temple of Philae by ''[[Théodore Frère]]'' ]]
In 1902, the [[Aswan Low Dam]] was completed on the Nile River by the [[United Kingdom|British]]. This threatened to submerge many ancient landmarks, including the temple complex of Philae. However, the British prioritized the advancement of Modern Egypt at the expense of the complex.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Andersen |first=Casper |date=2011-04-19 |title=The Philae Controversy—Muscular Modernization and Paternalistic Preservation in Aswan and London |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02757206.2011.558580 |journal=History and Anthropology |language=en |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=203–220 |doi=10.1080/02757206.2011.558580 |issn=0275-7206|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The height of the dam was raised twice, from 1907 to 1912 and from 1929 to 1934, and the island of Philae was nearly always flooded. In fact, the only times that the complex was not underwater was when the [[dam]]'s [[sluice]]s were open from July to October.

It was proposed that the temples be relocated, piece by piece, to nearby islands, such as [[Bigeh]] or [[Elephantine]]. However, the temples' [[foundation (architecture)|foundation]]s and other [[architecture|architectural]] supporting structures were strengthened instead. Although the buildings were physically secure, the island's attractive [[vegetation]] and the colors of the temples' [[relief]]s were washed away. Also, the bricks of the Philae temples soon became encrusted with [[silt]] and other debris carried by the Nile.

====Rescue project====
[[File:Reconstruction of the temple of Isis on its new site at AGILKIA island.jpg|thumb|The Philae temple complex is reassembled on Agilkia Island after having been moved in the 1970's to save it from flooding.]]
The temples had been practically intact since the ancient days, but with each inundation the situation worsened and in the 1960s the island was submerged up to a third of the buildings all year round.

In 1960 [[UNESCO]] started a project to try to save the buildings on the island from the destructive effect of the ever-increasing waters of the [[Nile]]. First, building three dams and creating a separate lake with lower water levels was considered.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0006/000663/066319eb.pdf |title=Report on the safeguarding of the Philae monuments |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=November 1960 |access-date=2014-10-25}}</ref>

First, a large [[coffer dam]] was built, constructed of two rows of steel plates between which a {{convert|1|e6m3|lk=on|abbr=off}} of sand was tipped. Any water that seeped through was pumped away.

{{external media
| float  = left
| width  = 20em
| image1 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20160314081244/https://www.lessingimages.com/viewimage.asp?i=08011859+&cr=24&cl=1 large image with watermarks])
| image2 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20161021002726/https://www.panoramio.com/photo/51201612 Another view of the remnants]
}}
Next, the monuments were cleaned and measured using [[photogrammetry]], a method that enables the exact reconstruction of the original size of the building blocks that were used by the ancients. Then every building was dismantled into about 40,000 units from 2 to 25 tons, and then transported to the nearby [[Agilkia Island|Island of Agilkia]], situated on higher ground some {{convert|500|m|ft}} away. The transfer itself took place between 1977 and 1979.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} {{clear left}}

==Nearby locations of interest==
Prior to the inundation, a little west of Philae lay a larger island, anciently called Snem or Senmut, but now [[Bigeh]]. It is very steep, and from its most elevated peak affords a fine view of the Nile, from its smooth surface south of the islands to its plunge over the shelves of rock that form the First Cataract. Philae, Bigeh and another lesser island divided the river into four principal streams, and north of them it took a rapid turn to the west and then to the north, where the cataract begins.

Bigeh, like Philae, was a holy island; its ruins and rocks are inscribed with the names and titles of [[Amenhotep&nbsp;III]], [[Ramesses II|Ramesses&nbsp;II]], [[Psamtik&nbsp;II]], [[Apries]], and [[Amasis&nbsp;II]], together with memorials of the later [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonian]] and [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] rulers of Egypt. Its principal ruins consisted of the [[propylon]] and two columns of a temple, which was apparently of small dimensions, but of elegant proportions. Near them were the fragments of two colossal [[granite]] statues and also an excellent piece of masonry of much later date, having the aspect of an arch belonging to a church or [[mosque]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Island of Philœ LCCN2004671988.jpg|1856 photo
File:Lepsius-Projekt tw 1-2-104-2.jpg|Map of Philae with floor plan of the Temple of [[Isis]]
File:GD-EG-Philaé-map.png|[[Agilkia Island]], where the temple complex was moved in the 20th century
File, Asuán, Egipto, 2022-04-01, DD 96.jpg|First pylon and colonnade
File, Asuán, Egipto, 2022-04-01, DD 105.jpg|Temple hieroglyphs at Philae
File, Asuán, Egipto, 2022-04-01, DD 118-120 HDR.jpg|Interior
File, Asuán, Egipto, 2022-04-01, DD 89.jpg|Temple of Isis from the west
File, Asuán, Egipto, 2022-04-01, DD 142.jpg|[[Trajan's Kiosk]] of Philae
File:S10.08 Philae, image 9649.jpg|Lantern Slide Collection: Views, Objects: Egypt - Philae. Temple of Isis. Capitals of east colonnade., n.d., Joseph Hawkes. Brooklyn Museum Archives
File:S03 06 01 018 image 2406.jpg|Mammisi <ref name="madainmammisi">{{cite web |title=Mammisi (Philae Temple Complex) |url=https://madainproject.com/mammisi_(philae) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413043159/https://madainproject.com/mammisi_(philae) |archive-date=13 April 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> (Birth-house). Brooklyn Museum Archives, Goodyear Archival Collection
File, Asuán, Egipto, 2022-04-01, DD 99.jpg|Eastern colonnade in the outer or the forecourt <ref name="madainisistemple">{{cite web |title=Temple of Isis |url=https://madainproject.com/temple_of_isis_(philae) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413044114/https://madainproject.com/temple_of_isis_(philae) |archive-date=13 April 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
File:S10.08 Philae, image 9945.jpg|General view of Temple of Philae during flood, 1908, Brooklyn Museum Archives
File:Sanctuary of Isis, flood.jpg|Sanctuary of Isis, flood (2 January 1969)
File:The temple of Isis and the Pavillon of Trajan.jpg|Pavillon of Trajan, 1960
File:Temple of Philae as seen from a boat.jpg|Temple of Philae as seen from a boat
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Abu Simbel temples]]
*[[Diocese of Philae]]
*[[Luxor]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
;Attribution
{{SmithDGRG|wstitle=Philae}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Arnold |first=Dieter |title=Temples of the Last Pharaohs |year=1999 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-512633-4 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195126334 }}
*{{cite book |last=Cruz-Uribe |first=Eugene |chapter=The Death of Demotic at Philae, a Study in Pilgrimage and Politics |editor-last=Bács |editor-first=Tamás |title=A Tribute to Excellence: Studies offered in honor of Erno Gaal, Ulrich Luft, and Laszlo Torok |publisher=Chaire d'Egyptologie de l'Université Eotvos Lorand |year=2002 |isbn=978-963-463-606-9 }}
*{{cite book |last=Cruz-Uribe |first=Eugene |chapter=The Death of Demotic Redux: Pilgrimage, Nubia, and the Preservation of Egyptian Culture |title=Honi soit qui mal y pense: Studien zum pharaonischen, griechisch-römischen und spätantiken Ägypten zu Ehren von Heinz-Josef Thissen |editor1-last=Knuf |editor1-first=Hermann |editor2-last=Leitz |editor2-first=Christian |editor3-last=von Recklinghausen |editor3-first=Daniel |year=2010 |publisher=Peeters |isbn=978-90-429-2323-2 }}
*{{cite book|last=Dijkstra|first=Jitse H. F.|title=Philae and the End of Ancient Egyptian Religion|year=2008|publisher=Peeters|isbn=978-90-429-2031-6 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Haeny |first=Gerhard |title=A Short Architectural History of Philae |journal=Bulletin de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale |volume=85 |date=1985 }}
*{{cite book|last=Vassilika|first=Eleni|title=Ptolemaic Philae|year=1989|publisher=Peeters|isbn=978-90-6831-200-3 }}
*{{cite book |last=Winter |first=Erich |chapter=Philae |title= Textes et langages de l'Égypte pharaonique: cent cinquante années de recherches, 1822–1972. Hommage à Jean-François Champollion. |year=1974 |publisher=Institut français d'archéologie orientale }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Philae}}
{{Commons category|Temple of Isis in Philae}}
{{NIE Poster|Philæ}}
*[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=philae,+egypt&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=24.025123,32.884215&spn=0.005105,0.01075&t=k&om=1 Philae Satellite view @ Google Maps]
*{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Philae |volume=21 |page=373 |short=1 |first=Francis Llewellyn |last=Griffith}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100212221815/http://www.philae.nu/philae/landing.html Sacred Temple Island of Philae]
*[https://discoveringegypt.com/pyramids-temples-of-egypt/philae-temple/ Philae @ Mark Millmore's Ancient Egypt]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090202134428/http://www.egyptsites.co.uk/upper/aswan/philae.html Philae @ EgyptSites]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080703154845/http://www.horus.demon.co.uk/Nile/Philae.html Cruising the Nile: Philae]
*[http://www.akhet.co.uk/philae.htm Philae @ Akhet Egyptology]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130728205254/http://www.imagesjourney.com/Main.aspx?Category=39 Philae Temple Photos]

{{Kushite religion footer}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Egypt}}
{{Ancient Egypt topics}}
{{Islands of Egypt}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Philae| ]]<!--please leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:Isis]]
[[Category:Islands of the Nile]]
[[Category:River islands of Egypt]]
[[Category:Egyptian temples]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Egypt]]
[[Category:Relocated monuments of Lower Nubia]]
[[Category:Roman sites in Egypt]]
[[Category:Tourism in Egypt]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Egypt]]
[[Category:Aswan Governorate]]
[[Category:History of Nubia]]
[[Category:Blemmyes]]