- Philae Island, also known as Philae, is located just upstream of Elephantine Island in the Nile, just before the First Cataract at Aswan.
- It acted as the border between Egypt and Nubia.
Religious Significance
- It was considered by the Ancient Egyptians to be one of the burial sites of Osiris, along with Abydos and was the location of the Tomb of Osiris.
- It had a Garrison and a Temple complex, which has now been moved to nearby Agilkia Island to protect it from the inundations caused by the Aswan Dam.
Temple Complex (now at Agilkia Island)
- The Temple complex consisted of:
- Temple of Isis at Philae
- Temple of Hadrian
- Temple of Hathor
- Trajan's Kiosk
- It was built to house the boat of Isis, and originally built on the island of Philae, but is now relocated to Agilkia Island.
- various other Temples.
- The first Temple was founded by the Ptolemies and inhabited only by the Priests.
- A Nilometer was located in the Temple complex.
Military Significance
- The island was the Border with Nubia, and had a Pharaonic Garrison, continued by the Ptolemies, and then by the Romans.
Commercial Significance
- Philae had a secondary function as a warehouse for Goods shipped between Egypt and Kush known asNubia.
- As Philae was close to the First Cataract, Goods en-route between Meroe and Memphis were landed here, at times of the year when the Nile was unnavigable.
Tourist Attraction
- Roman Grand Tour
- Philae Island was a tourist destination for Roman Pilgrims on the Roman Grand Tour, to see the Temples.
- One Roman left Graffiti on the wall of the Temple of Isis at Philae Island:
- ‘I.L. Trebonius Oricula was here’.
Sources
Philae Island