et reviews Philae Temple: The Legend of the Nile River

Tue, Apr. 3, 2018

CAIRO – 3 April 2018: Philae Temple is one of the most beautiful places you can visit in Aswan, from the moment you set foot on the boat that will take you to Agilika Island, on which the temple is built. The temple is a true testament to the grandiosity and genius of the Pharaohs.

Philae Temple, Mar. 2018 - Egypt Today/Mahmoud Shleib

The Temple previously flooded in 1906, which prompted the officials at the Ministry of Antiquities to gather large parts of the Temple, stone by stone, and transfer them to Agilika Island in 1971, about 500 meters from its original place in Philae Temple. The stones were subsequently transferred back after the construction of the High Dam.

Philae Temple, Mar. 2018 - Egypt Today/Mahmoud Shlieb

"Philae" translates to "sweetheart" from Greek; however, the temple's ancient Egyptian and Coptic name is "Belak", which means "the end" because the Temple was built on Egypt's last border in the south.

Philae Temple, Mar. 2018 - Egypt Today/Mahmoud Shlieb

The temple is also called the Temple of Isis because it was built for her as an exile after she fell in love with one of the public, Osiris. Her father refused to allow her to marry him because she was a queen.

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Philae Temple, Mar. 2018 - Egypt Today/Mahmoud Shlieb

Philae Temple was built during the third century BC before the Amenhotep and Arsenofis Temples.

Philae Temple, Mar. 2018 - Egypt Today/Mahmoud Shlieb

Philae Temple, Mar. 2018 - Egypt Today/Mahmoud Shlieb

Over the centuries, Philae Temple was used for the worship of the goddess Isis; the practice of worshipping Isis later spread from Egypt to Greece and Rome.

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Philae Temple, Mar. 2018 - Egypt Today/Mahmoud Shlieb

Philae Temple has been witnessing a huge number of Egyptian and foreign tourists in the last period; more than a thousand a day, according to tourist guide Ahmed Mohamed, a tourist guide. Mohamed added that visiting Philae Temple is usually implemented in tourists' and visitors' basic programs in Aswan.

Philae Temple, Mar. 2018 - Egypt Today/Mahmoud Shlieb

Philae Temple displays history and events in a dazzling image via the sound-and-light show; the sound-and-light performances also tell the myth of Isis and Osiris's Journey.

Philae Temple, Mar. 2018 - Egypt Today/Mahmoud Shlieb

It is my first and definitely not last visit; truly a wonderful experience. The embrace of ancient Egyptian history, enjoying the food while listening to music and dinning in restaurants perched on the Nile between the stones of the temple is not an experience one would choose to live only once.