Philae .. The island of Bigeh .. Part ( 12 )

Immediately to the west of Philae lies the larger island of Bigeh, which, though usually made use of only as a viewpoint from which to see Philae, has remains which are themselves worthy of attention, and which prove the larger island to have had a much more ancient history than its more famous neighbour .

Philae Island .. The other buildings .. Part ( 11 )

Hadrian's Gateway

On the west side of the temple near the second Great Pylon, stands a gateway which leads to a sorely ruined vestibule built by the Emperor Hadrian, rising above the quay wall .

Philae Island .. The Great Temple of Isis .. Part ( 10 )

The eastern chambers of the temple of Isis

Returning to the small court or hall before the vestibule, one should now visit the eastern portion of the building . On the south wall there is a damaged relief of the king offering to Horus .

Philae Island .. The Great Temple of Isis .. Part ( 9 )

The Hypostyle Hall of the temple of Isis

Ascending the stairs from the forecourt one passes through the great doorway . On the two jambs are reliefs showing the king offering to various gods . On the east side is an inscription of Bishop Theodorus ( reign of Justinian, A.D. 527 – 565 ) .

Philae Island .. The Forecourt of the Temple of Isis and The Second Pylon .. Part ( 8 )

The east side of the Forecourt of the temple of Isis

The east side of the forecourt between the two pylons is formed by a colonnade with graceful ten columns in a floral and palm-leaf capital which support a cavetto cornice, bearing a row of uraeus-serpents, from the back of which six doorways lead .

Philae Island .. The First Great Pylon and The Birth-house of Horus .. Part ( 7 )

The First Great Pylon

The north side of the Outer Court at Philae is bounded by the First Great Pylon of the temple . It is an imposing structure, 150 feet in width and 60 feet in height, consisting of two towers with a gate between them . The deep grooves for flag-poles are cut on either side of the portal .

Philae Island .. The Great Temple of Isis ( Outer Court ) .. Part ( 6 )

About The Great Temple of Isis

We now reach the great temple of Isis, which was begun by Ptolemy II, Philadelphus ( 283 – 245 B.C. ), and completed in essentials by Ptolemy III, Euergetes I ( 247 – 221 B.C. ) .