Location: Map
Temples on Philae Island Archaeological Site were built over the course of six centuries, from the 3rd century BC the 3rd century AD. Construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 70's threatened many archeological sites. Philae Island was no exception to that. The island was partially submerged, so in the years 1972-1980 monuments were moved to the island Agilkia. This is why occasionally it is referred as site on Philae Island or Agilkia Island. It is the same destination. The central stage of Agilkia Island is taken by a religious complex of the great temple of Isis from the late period of the Ptolemies. The cult of this Egyptian goddess spread all through the basin of the Mediterranean, including Roman Empire. Many people came here to pay tribute to the goddess and her priests in hopes of good crops and multiple children. Just to the West of the temple the Gate of Handrian stands. One of the last Egyptian hieroglyphs were added to it in 394. Trajan gazebo surrounded by 14 papyris like columns also depict Roman emperor burning incense before god Osiris and his wife Isis. Another Temple of Hathor stands near by with colorful reliefs of Besa, god of song, with numerous musicians surrounding him.
Aguilkia Island is located in Egypt , south of Aswan , between the old Aswan Dam in the northwest and the Aswan High Dam in the south, just north of Biggeh Island . It was a mound that the rising waters caused by the construction of these two dams reduced to an elongated islet. For this reason, because it is located 300 meters northwest of the ancient island of Philae and because it is never submerged by the waters, the island of Aguilkia hosts the temples that were moved from the island of Philæ between 1974 and 1976. The name of Philæ has moved with the temples, passing from the submerged island to that of Aguilkia known since under this name. On the occasion of this work, the island of Aguikia has been remodeled to make it look as much as possible to the ancient island of Philae: its summit has been leveled over about thirty meters and its outline modified to reproduce the shape of a bird .