Once a center for the cult of Isis, the temples of Philae were recognized from the Pharaonic era through the Roman, Greek, and Byzantine periods with each ruler creating additions to the stones here. If you are an architecture expert, you might see clear signs that it was built by the Greeks, trying to impersonate the Egyptians.
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Egypt, Philae Temple in Aswan is among the best-preserved ancient sanctuaries. Today, visitors can walk amidst the beautiful columns of this ancient site built centuries ago. On many Nile river cruises, Philae Temple is an important monument site that a tourist can visit.
Highlights
- Ride a water taxi to Agilika Island.
- Go through the grand 18-meter-high entry decorated with reliefs by Nectanebo.
- Visit the last chamber in the Birth House, which depicts scenes from Horus’ childhood.
- See the unfinished reliefs in the inner temple.
- Watch the mesmerizing Sound and Light Show available in English, French, German, and Spanish.
- Visit the places around Philae Temple like the Temple of Hathor, the Kiosk of Trajan, and Byzantine-era Remnants.
Philae Temple Ticket Prices
Book your tickets for Philae Temple, Sound and Light Show, Unfinished Obelisk, and Aswan High Dam in advance to secure your spot. Here is the cost of the temples and other attractions around it –
- Cost of Entry to the Philae Temple: INR 837
- Cost of Philae Sound and Light Show: INR 1395
- Cost of visiting Unfinished Obelisk: INR 371
- Cost of visiting Aswan High Dam: INR 465
Recommended For
Philae Temple is a major tourist attraction in Egypt and is an ideal place for history buffs and architecture lovers.
About Philae Temple
The oldest surviving temple buildings in Egypt, Philae Temple dates back to the time of Nectanebo I. The chief deity of the temple was goddess Isis and Hathor, Osiris, Nephthys, and the cataract gods Khnum and Satet were also recognized. During the Islamic era, locals called Philae Temple ‘El-Oasr’ meaning the “Castle” or Geziret Anas el-Wogud, one of the heroes in the Arabian Nights tales who found his beloved on an island, where she was locked up by her father.
The striking buildings you see today were built in the last two centuries BC by the Ptolemies and in the first three centuries AD by the Roman Emperors. Also, there are many inscriptions that depict that pilgrims traveled to Philae back in Greek and Roman times to pay their respects to Isis, goddess of healing and magic.
Even in the Christian era, the Nubians remained faithful to the cult of Isis. The temples were shut in the era of Justinian (AD 527 – 565) and some chambers were used for Christian worship.
After the construction of the first Aswan Dam, Philae Island was underwater from the bottom for almost a year and Philae Temple could only be visited between August and December. The Aswan High Dam project threatened the existence of Philae Temple and thus UNESCO and the Egyptian Government restored the temples to another island between 1972 and 1980. They cut the temples into sections, carefully numbered them, and relocated them to Agilika Island.
On your visit to Philae Temple in Aswan, you will see gray color on the lower part of the walls and columns, which is the result of their annual immersion between the two dams for a period of time. Despite this, they were moved stone-by-stone and today, still retain their power to impress the masses.
Interesting Facts about Philae Temple
- Philae Temple is the last ancient temple to be built in Egyptian classic style.
- The Temple of Isis was built to commemorate the goddess Isis. It served as an example of the cult that was framed around the story of Isis and Osiris.
- As God Osiris was buried on the island, the Temple of Isis was considered the most sacred temple by Egyptians as well as Nubians.
- Only priests were allowed to dwell here. Even aquatic animals never came near the shores of Philae Island.
