Philae Temple Island - Sanctuary of Goddess Isis

Perched upon Agilkia Island in the Nile reservoir above Aswan, the Temple of Philae was the sacred epicenter of the Isis cult and the final bastion of classical ancient Egyptian religion. Dating predominantly to the Ptolemaic and Roman eras, the temple's colonnaded courtyards, towering pylon gates, and the graceful riverside Kiosk of Trajan evoke an atmosphere of sacred serenity that captured the imaginations of travelers since antiquity. Reaching the sanctuary involves boarding a traditional wooden boat from the Shellal marina, cruising past black granite outcrops that rise like natural sculptures from the azure river. As the island approaches, the elegant hypostyle halls appear to float upon the water's surface. Within the inner sanctuaries, delicate bas-reliefs narrate the myth of Osiris and Isis, culminating in the birth of Horus in the temple's Mammisi (birth house). Philae holds a poignant historical significance: it was here in 394 AD that the very last known hieroglyphic inscription was carved by a priest named Nesmeterakhem, before the edicts of Justinian finally shuttered the ancient pagan rites. For the most evocative encounter, visit during the golden hour before dusk, when the low sun casts long shadows through the colonnades and the evening sound and light performance illuminates the ancient stones against the starry Nubian night.