About the Temple Island of Philae

philea of temple the Egypt2

Temple Island of

Philae

was a rocky island in the middle of the River Nile, south of Aswan. It was called in Hieroglyphic “Apo” which means Ivory. It was also known by the Greek “Elephantine”, most probably because it was an important centre of trade, especially for ivory. The Ancient

Egypt

ians built a massive and magnificent Temple on this island for the Isis

Egypt

ian Goddess . The Temple became submerged after the first Aswan Dam was built in 1906, and it was not until the seventies that many nations attempted to save the Temple. All these countries, together with

UNESCO

, selected a suitable place, but they had to wait until the completion of the High Dam, in 1971. SO the level of the water around their chosen island would be stabilized . The new island was called Egilica (also called Agilika), and it was completely reshaped to imitate Temple Island of

Philae

as closely as possible. Firstly, a cofferdam was built around the Temple and the water was drained. Next, the Temple was dismantled and transferred, stone by stone, from the submerged Philea Island to the redesigned Egilica Island. 550 meters from its original location on

Philae

island. Interestingly each block of the Temple was labeled and its position carefully recorded, so that it could be reconstructed in exactly the same format. Even the site on which the main

Philae

Temple rests, was landscaped so that it would look like the site on which the temple was originally standing. The rescue mission took 10 years to complete and involved the movement of blocks weighing 27000 tons in total. The Temple of The temple of philae was reopened in 1980! The legend of

Philae

:- Temple Island of

Philae

is famous for the legend of Isis and Osiris . For example the pylons within the Temple of Isis contains depictions of the deities involved in this famous ancient

Egypt

ian myth. Isis

Egypt

ian Goddess is the wife of God Osiris and mother of God of

horus

(god of

horus

). In the myth Osiris was murdered by his brother the wicked God Seth. Seth scattered God Osiris pieces in various places. Isis

Egypt

ian Goddess tirelessly searched for God Osiris's body parts and then using her Goddess powers to join the pieces together and bring God Osiris back to life. Following God Osiris' resurrection Isis and God Osiris conceived Horus (

god of

horus

). God Osiris then adopted the role of "God of the under world and judge of the dead. At the end of the tale Horus (

god of

horus

) grows up to avenges his father by defeating Seth in combat. Isis

Egypt

ian Goddess is a very important figure in the Ancient world. She is associated with funeral rites but as the enchantress who resurrected God Osiris and gave birth to Horus (

god of

horus

) she is also the giver of life, a healer and protector of kings. She was known as 'Mother of God' and was represented with a throne on her head. During the Roman period her cult spread throughout Greece and the Roman Empire. There was even a Temple dedicated to her in London. Each evening there is a Sound and Light Show which recounts the legends against the magnificent backdrop of the floodlit monuments – a truly magical experience.