Aswan - The Temple of Philae - Day 6

Mon, 05 May 2008 21:59:04 +0100

Philae Island was a rocky island in the middle of the River Nile, south of Aswan.

The Ancient Egyptians built a beautiful and magnificent Temple on this island for the Goddess Isis, but the Temple became submerged after the first Aswan dam was built in 1906, and it was not until the seventies that many nations attempted to save the Temple.

Firstly, a cofferdam was built around the Temple and the water was drained. Next, the Temple was dismantled and transferred, stone by stone, from the submerged Philea Island to the redesigned Egilica Island. Each and every stone had to be numbered, and then replaced, in the same position, in the new location. It was a massive, and very complicated, project taking over 9 years to be accomplished. The Temple of Philae was reopened in 1980!

The Brigatti On-Line Gallery

Aswan - The Temple of Philae - Day 6