Aswan Agilika Island

Philae Temple: The Timeless Jewel of the Nile

In the middle of the timeless Aswan Nile, the Philae Temple, “the pearl of Nile temples” and one of the oldest ancient Nubian Egyptian temples, Philae Island was of great importance to the ancient Egyptians, due to its picturesque location, as it formed a natural geographical border with Aswan Island, as it formed a natural geographical border with Aswan Island.

It was known in Egyptian texts as the dividing line, in an island in the middle of the Nile and the history of an ancient civilization in one of the Nubian monuments that were saved from drowning after the construction of the High Dam, an island located in the middle of the Nile River. Egypt Travel Packages often include a visit to this ancient marvel.

It is one of the strongest fortresses along Egypt's southern border, separating the Nile into two opposite channels in Aswan, which had a Philae temple that was moved from its original location on Philae Island and assembled on Agilika Island, following the construction of the High Dam.

Philae Temple witnessed a large turnout of tourists from different countries of the world who were keen to visit the monuments and enjoy the ancient Egyptian civilization, and visit the temple, which is an island in the middle of the Nile River and one of the strongest fortresses along Egypt's southern border. Egypt Shore Excursions often include this iconic temple as a must-see destination.

The Temple of Philae, which began construction during the reign of King Ptolemy II, and contributed to the construction of several Ptolemaic kings, which was dedicated to the worship of the goddess Isis, is the main temple on the island, in addition to several other temples, including the Temple of Hathor and the Temple of Horus. Egypt Day Tours frequently offer guided visits to Philae Temple as part of the itinerary.

The earliest known monuments to the temples of Philae date back to the reign of King Taharka, one of the kings of the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty.

Since the completion of the construction of the first Aswan Dam in 1902 AD, the Nile waters besieged the temple and Philae Island for most of the year, with its valuable archaeological stock, and with the near completion of the construction of the High Dam, during the era of the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser, in 1960 AD, the situation worsened. The island and its monuments were threatened to be completely and forever submerged, which made the Egyptian government hold talks to save the Philae Temple from the dangers of rising water levels.

In May 1968, the Egyptian government decided to relocate this group of temples, including the Philae temple, and rebuild them on the neighboring island of Agilka, 600 meters away from Philae Island. To implement this project, the campaign had to provide two-thirds of the cost of the project, so it decided to present it to UNESCO, which in turn decided to launch an international appeal on September 22, 1968, to save Nubia's monuments.

Stages of the project to save Philae Temple: Work on archaeological photography and drawing began in 1972 AD, and in 1974 AD, a temporary metal dam consisting of two rows of steel plates was built around the island, with one million cubic meters of sand between them, to prevent the flow of water into the island.

All the archaeological blocks of the Philae temple, about 4,200 blocks, were dismantled and moved to the island of “Agilka” in 1977, and finally the transportation and construction of the parts of the Philae temple were completed and meticulously reassembled, preserving its inscriptions, most of which had melted, and opening it to visitors in 1980.

The name Philae or Philae goes back to the Greek language, which means “Habiba” or “Habibat”, while the Arabic name for it is Anas Al-Wujood, due to the legend of Anas in the stories of the Thousand and One Nights, and the ancient Egyptian and Coptic name is Belak or Belakh, which means the limit or the end because it was the last border of Egypt in the south, and the worship group was dedicated to the worship of the goddess Isis, but the island contained temples for Hathor, Amenhotep and other temples.

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You can travel to the Philae temple complex in a number of ways. The majority of river cruises that travel between Luxor and Aswan include Agilkia Island in their itineraries. As an alternative, a lot of tour companies provide day trips from Aswan that transport visitors to the Philae temple complex as well as neighboring sights like the Unfinished Obelisk and the Aswan High Dam. Additionally, you can plan a visit on your own. To go to the Marina Philae Temple, where official boats are waiting to take tourists to Agilkia Island, just take a taxi from Aswan.

Monday through Sunday, 7 am to 4 pm (October through May) and 7 am to 5 pm (June through September), are the hours of operation for the Philae Temple.
 

Nearby Philae Temple (Temple of Isis) attractions include:

  • Unfinished Obelisk
  • The Nubian Museum
  • Elephantine Island
     

Yes, taking a boat ride on the Nile River is a popular activity in Aswan. You can choose from various options, such as felucca sailboats or motorized boats, to explore the river and enjoy the scenic views.

The actual Temple of Philae is located close to Aswan on Philae Island in the Nile River. The name Philae Island is frequently applied to the island itself.

As stated in the prior response, you can visit the Temple of Philae on Philae Island and its assortment of Isis-related structures. Encircled by the Nile River and verdant foliage, the island presents a tranquil and scenic environment.
 

Ajelika Island in Aswan is one of the beautiful and distinctive Nile islands in the region, and it offers many recreational and tourist activities for visitors. Among the activities that can be done on Ajelika Island:

Boat trips: You can rent a private boat or join a boat tour to explore the beauty of the Nile surrounding Ajelika Island. You can enjoy breathtaking views of the river and scenic landscapes along the way.

Relax on the beach: Ajelika Island is characterized by its beautiful sandy beaches, where you can relax in the sun and enjoy the peace and quiet on the banks of the Nile.

Bicycle touring: You can rent a bicycle and wander around Ajelica Island to explore the stunning landscapes and enjoy the fresh air and surrounding nature.

Visiting the island's landmarks: Ajelica Island includes some famous tourist attractions such as St. George's Cathedral and St. Samuel's Monastery, you can spend some time exploring these landmarks and discovering the history of the island.

Hiking and walking: Exploring Ajelica Island on foot is a wonderful experience, as you can wander the streets of the island and explore its beautiful landscapes and tranquil environment.

Dining and shopping: You can enjoy a delicious meal at one of the local restaurants on the island and taste delicious local dishes, in addition to shopping at the local markets to buy gifts and souvenirs.

Agilika is an island in the reservoir of the ancient Aswan Dam along the Nile River in southern Egypt; it is the current site of the Philae Temple after it was moved from Philae, after being flooded in 1902, the Philae Temple was dismantled and moved to Agilika Island, as part of a wider UNESCO project.

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