The Temple of Philae
by gabfan31 on Comments
This is the Temple of Philae, located on Lake Nasser at Aswan. The main temple was dedicated to the Goddess Isis, though there was a smaller temple dedicated to the Goddess Hathor (Egyptian Goddess of Love, associated with cows). The complex dates mostly to Ptolemaic times, with some Roman additions by Trajan, as well. It has the distinction of being the last pagan temple in the Mediterranean world to be closed for worship as the Christians became the dominant religion in the area. The complex spent much of the year below water when the English built the first dam at Aswan, and later when the Aswan High Dam was built it was immersed year round. In 1977 UNESCO began the three year project to move the temple from the island of Biga where it was located originally to its new home on the nearby island of Agilkai, where it rests today. It was once considered one of the wonders of the ancient world, and with its beautiful location on the island, it's still one of Egypt's premier sights today.