Monuments #02

We have discussed the pyramids so far, so in this post, we will present another type of monument - Isis temple of Philae from one of the final missions of the late period campaign, last such large monument built before the fall of Egypt.



As with the pyramids, temples will need to be built step by step. The player will witness the construction to which he will need to deliver huge amounts of stone, wood, paint and lamps, and will also need to employ a huge number of workers.




The island of Phile was located at the height of the first cataract on the Nile, which was a sacred place of Egypt. According to ancient Egyptians, the island was the first piece of land to emerge from the waters of Chaos. In ancient times on the island of Philae was built a temple of Isis during the reign of Nectanebo I, king of the XXX dynasty. During the Greek and Roman rule, the temple was extended by the Trajan kiosk, the portico of Octavian and Tiberius.



A very interesting feature of this temple is a square closed on both sides with a colonnade, which on one side begins with the temple and on the other side with a small kiosk as a place of rest during cult ceremonies.
The passage between the two 22.0 m high pylons leads to the interior of the temple. The pylons are decorated with reliefs showing King Ptolemy XII killing his enemies.



In the courtyard, on its western side, there is mammisi – small chapel - from the times of Ptolemy Euergestes II and Ptolemy XII. Behind the courtyard, after passing through the second 18.0 m high pylon, the main passage leads to the hypostyl hall. Inside the sanctuary there is a cryptic nave surrounded by several rooms.