Philae Temple Complex

Philae is an approximate Greek rendering of the local name “Pilak” known from hieroglyphic texts and which may be Nubian in origin. The ancient Egyptians saw in their name for Philae an etymology with the meaning “island of the time [of Ra], i.e. creation, but the island’s history is later than that.

There is some evidence at Philae of cult activity in honor of Amun, in the time of King Taharqa, who ruled Egypt between 689 and 664 BCE in the 25^th dynasty, and who probably built an altar to Amun. Perhaps the Kushites, when invading Egypt , established a stronghold on Philae . Traces of mudbrick houses in trenches between the stone foundations of the later temples and the early nilometer west of the mammisi may date to this period.

The Taharqa altar to Amun is the earliest evidence of structures on the island. The known history of Philae does not go back farther than that, and it was not until the Ptolemaic-Roman Period that Philae rose to importance. The priests believed their island had a far longer history, and as stated above, an inscription at the frontier at the island of Sehel states that as early as the 3^rd Dynasty, Djoser gave them the country from the First Cataract to the island of Derar . (Dodekaschoinoi) During Ptolemaic times they held the gold mines of Wadi Alaki within their administrative sphere.

But the earliest known cult building in honor of Isis , known to the Egyptians as Aset, was a small shrine erected in the Saite period by Psamtik II. This was followed by a further small temple on the granite outcrop, erected by Amasis. So it now seems that the Saite kings introduced the cult of Isis into this area and laid the foundations for her subsequent glorification on the island.

The next evidence of building dates to the 30^th Dynasty. Beginning at the ancient quay where boats now land at the southwestern corner of the great temple, the first structure is the kiosk of Nektanebo I, oldest structure still standing. There is also a gate built by the same king, embedded in the first pylon of the main temple. The gateway clearly formed part of an enclosure wall, but all these were embellishments to the pre-existing Saite temple enclosure. To the north, the processional way leads to the main temple of Isis .

The building work in the main Isis temple is overwhelmingly Ptolemaic and forms part of the Ptolemaic policy of promoting the Isis cult throughout the kingdom and beyond. The core of the Isis temple, everything north of the vestibule, was built by Ptolemy II, just behind the ancient shrine of Amasis, which was then demolished.

The entrance to the main temple is fronted by the pylon of Ptolemy XII, which is decorated with the canonical scenes of the king dispatching enemies and which contains both a main portal and a subsidiary gate in the west tower, leading into the birth house of Ptolemy VI and later rulers. The mammisi is similar in plan and decoration to those of Dendera and Efu, but here, shares roughly the same axis as the main temple.

In the Sanctuary of the mammisi or birth-house of Isis , the hawk of Horus is shown wearing the Double Crown and standing in a thicket of papyrus. Below that scene, Isis carries the newly born Horus in her arms, surrounded by the gods Thoth, Wadjet, Nekhbet and Amun-Ra.

The second pylon opens to the hypostyle hall of the main temple, the first part left open. Beyond are the chambers of the inner temple, and the sanctuary, which still contains the pedestal, dedicated by Ptolemy III and Berenike, of the barque of Isis , though the granite shrines were removed to European museums. The roof holds an Osiris room and other chambers, sunk well below the level of the roof at each corner. The Osiris room has its own vestibule with scenes of the gods bewailing the dead Osiris, and the inner room contains scenes relating to the collection of the god’s scattered limbs.

Just to the south is the kiosk of Trajan, with fourteen columns, connected by screen walls, supporting the architraves, which once served as the formal entrance to the island.

The sanctuary of the temple, the holiest of holy places, was lit by two small windows, and still contains the pedestal placed by Ptolemy III, Euergetes I, and Berenice, for the image of Isis in her sacred barque. Surrounding the sanctuary are the Osiris chambers, reached by a short staircase on the west side of the temple which leads to the roof and then descends to the rooms.

Throughout the temple of Isis , its pylons and other buildings, there are reliefs of the Egyptian and Ptolemaic Kings being purified by priests, making offerings to Isis and the other gods, even in some cases dancing before the gods. And there are the usual “Smiting of Enemies” reliefs known throughout Egyptian history.

In 451-452 ACE, the Byzantine general Maximinus had to conclude a contract with the Blemmyes and the Nobadae confirming their ancient right of free access to the sanctuary of Isis at Philae , and were even allowed to take her image upstream to their homelands in festive seasons. An end to the cult was made in 535 ACE by Justinian who ordered its forceful suppression.

Sources:

The Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt ed. By Katherine Bard

Island of Isis , Philae , Temple of the Nile by William MacQuitty

A Guide to the Antiquities of Ancient Egypt by Arthur Weigall

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt

Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt by Richard Wilkinson

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