A Site I Found About Ancient Egyptian Goddesses Isis

The Temple of Isis

The Outer Court

The beautiful litography by David Roberts giving a good overview of
the first court and the colonnades as seen even today.

The Outer Court is flanked by two colonnades, the eastern and the western one. The western one holds windows which were overlooking the island of Bigeh before the removal of the buildings to Agilkia. The eastern one was never completed, but here are the chapels to Arensnuphis and Mandulis, both Nubian deities, and, next to the main temple, a chapel to Imhotep. The First Pylons(2), built by Ptolemy XII, are 18 m high and lead into the Inner Courtyard and the Mamissi..

Approach along the Western Colonnade towards the First Pylons.

Two granite lions flanking the portal. On the back side of the western pylon wall
are depictions of priests carrying the barque of Isis.

Looking back from the entrance towards the southernmost end of the island.
In ancient times this place was probably swarming with worshippers, godservants, pilgrims in strange clothing, as well as craftsmen; temple builders, stone masons and painters.

Closeup on the pillar heads of the Eastern Collonade which was never completed.

The Builders:

Some blocks from the New Kingdom Period have been found on the island but they could have been transported here in later times and their purpose is unclear.

Taharqa of the 25th Dynasty left some 18 block here. They were probably used for a small shrine to Amun. There is also the 'Altar of Taharqa' which was found at the southeastern end of the Inner Court.

Amasis Khunimbre (570-526 bc) was probably the earliest builder of a temple structure proper on the small island. At least, archaeological evidence has not proven otherwize. There was about 300 decorated blocks from a temple built by him found in the foundations of the 2nd Pylons and the Hypostyle Hall, preserved under the pavement of the temple built by Ptolemy VI. This small temple consisted of three rooms, the last of them serving as a sanctuary. It is thought that it was taken down to make room for the new structure.

Nectanebo I (ca 379-360 bc) was the next one. He also made the enclosure walls with a monumental gate. Besides that he also built a kiosk and begun constructing the mammissi, i.e. the birth house.

Ptolemy II Philadelphius (284-246 bc) contined the temple and the birth house, and the following ruler, Ptolemy III Euergetes I, (246-221 bc) extended the birth house.

Ptolemy V Epiphanes (205-180 bc) added the first pylons.

Ptolemy VI Philopator (180-145 bc) added the second pair of pylons, located at the inner court, He also added the court and the pronaos, and the Temple of Hathor on the eastern side of the great temple.

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes III (164-163 bc and 145-116 bc) extended the birth house where rituals to certify each ruler´s descent from the deities were celebrated. He also put up a pair of obelisks at the first pylons and extended the Temple of Hathor.

Closeup on some of the pillar heads of the Western Colonnade...

Detail of the stonework.

Next: the

Inner Courtyard and Mammissi

Philae Island:	Around the Island	Temple of Isis	Temple of Hathor	Island of Bigeh	Philae Main
Philae History:	Ancient Philae	Historic Philae	Destruction of Philae	Rescue Project I	Temple Inscriptions
Temple of Isis:	Outer Court	Birth House	Hypostyle Hall	Inner Shrine	Aretalogy
Great Isis:	Egyptian Aset	Roman Isis	Lady of Philae	Names & Symbols	Aset in Ancient Texts
Isis in Myth:	Isis & the Name of Re	Isis, Osiris & Set	The Seven Scorpions	In Chemmis	Contendings of Horus & Set
Other:	The New Kingdom Temple	Ancient Priesthood	Daily Rituals	Gods & Goddesses	Egyptian Links

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Per Ankh
A handy encyclopaedia about
the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses,
their priesthood and temple life.

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Contact:

Image sources:
Background: David Roberts, litographies.
Profile of Island - Temples of the Last Pharaos by Dieter Arnold
Mary Ann Sullivan atDigital Imaging Project