Philae - Temple of Isis

The Temple of Isis, the principal temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis and her son Harpocrates, probably occupies the site of an earlier temple. It was begun by Ptolemy II Philadelphus and substantially completed by Euergetes I, although the embellishment of the temple with reliefs and inscriptions was a very gradual process which was never quite completed.

The First Pylon 150ft/45.5m wide and 60ft/18m high, consists of two towers and a central doorway, which was decorated with reliefs by Nectanebo. On the front of the east tower is a huge figure of Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos grasping a band of enemies by the hair and raising his club to smite them, with Isis, the falcon headed Horus of Edfu and Hathor on the left. Above are two reliefs of Neos Dionysos presenting the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt to Horus and Nephthys (right) and offering incense to Isis and Harpocrates (left). There are similar reliefs on the west tower; at the foot are demotic and Greek inscriptions. A doorway in this tower, with reliefs by Philometor, leads directly to the entrance to the birth-house. In front of the pylon there originally stood two granite obelisks erected by Euergetes II and two granite lions.

The ascent of the pylon is well worth the effort; there is a winding staircase at the southeast corner of the forecourt beyond the pylon. The rooms in the interior are undecorated and dark.

Adjoining the south end of the East Colonnade is the badly ruined Temple of Eri-hems-nufer (Arsnuphis), built by Philopator and his Nubian contemporary Ergamenes and enlarged by Epiphanes. Practically nothing is left of a small chapel dedicated to the Nubian god Mandulis which stood behind the central part of the colonnade; but at the north end of the colonnade is a well preserved little Temple of Asclepius (Imhotep) built by Philadelphus.

The East Colonnade is unfinished, only six of the planned 16 columns having been completed. The others are only rough hewn and the capitals have been left unfinished. In the rear wall are five doors which led into various chapels.

The central doorway, within which (on the right) is a French inscription ("an 7 de la République") commemorating Napoleon's campaign and the pursuit of the Mamelukes by General Desaix in 1799, leads into the Forecourt, between the first and second pylons. On the rear wall of the first pylon are four priests with the sacred barque of Isis, preceded by the King burning incense. On either side of the forecourt are small buildings fronted by colonnades.

The small building to the east, opposite the birth house, contained rooms for the priests and others which served some scientific purpose. The plant columns in the vestibule are notable for their elegant proportions. The reliefs and inscriptions are by Neos Dionysos, the dedicatory inscription on the architrave by Euergetes II. On the north side of the vestibule a door, approached by steps, gives access to the inner passage round the temple. The reliefs depict Neos Dionysos in presence of the gods.

The Hall of Nectanebo leads into the large Outer Court of the temple, bounded on the north by the first pylon and on the east and west by colonnades; it dates from the end of the Ptolemaic period or the reign of Augustus. Here can be seen a section of the solid embankment wall which presumably enclosed the main part of the island and was interrupted at several points by steps leading down to the water.

The Second Pylon is 105ft/32m wide and 40ft/12m high. The reliefs on the central doorway are by Euergetes II. On the lower part of the Etowerisa large figure of Neos Dionysos dedicating the slaughtered sacrificial animals to Horus and Hathor. Above are two small reliefs depicting the King presenting a garland to Horus and Nephthys (right) and offering incense to Osiris, Isis and Horus and pouring water on the altar (left). The natural granite at the foot of the tower has been smoothed to form a stela, with a six line inscription and reliefs relating to a grant of land made by Philometor in the 24th year of his reign (157 B.C.).

In front of it are the foundations of a small chapel. The west tower has similar reliefs, which have been deliberately defaced. The second pylon can be climbed by a staircase on the north side of the west tower, from the top of which it is possible to cross the central doorway to the east tower. Within the central doorway (on the right, above) are some much faded Early Christian paintings.

The West Colonnade, which runs along the river side of the court, is 305ft/93m long and has 31 (originally 32) plant columns 17ft/5.10m high, with capitals of very varied form. Most of the columns have reliefs showing the Emperor Tiberius making offerings to the gods. The roof of the colonnade, part of which has collapsed, is decorated with stars and flying vultures. On the rear wall are two rows of reliefs depicting the Pharaoh, usually Augustus or Tiberius, dedicating gifts to the gods. From the colonnade a subterranean staircase leads down to a small Nilometer.

The building to the west of the Forecourt, the Birth House (mammisi), was dedicated to Hathor-Isis in honor of the birth of her son Horus. It is surrounded on all four sides by colonnades, the columns in which have foliage capitals surmounted by sistrum capitals. The walls, columns and screens between the columns are covered with reliefs and inscriptions, mostly by Euergetes II, Neos Dionysos, Augustus and Tiberius. Of particular interest are the reliefs in the last chamber, which depict scenes from the childhood of Horus, including Horus as a falcon in the swamps of the Delta, Isis suckling Horus in the swamps, etc.

Adjoining the east tower an elegant gateway has reliefs by Ptolemy II Philadelphus (on the lintel) and the Emperor Tiberius (on the jambs). The gateway, built by Philadelphus, originally stood in a brick wall.