Our next destination were the Temples of Philae. These were a series of temples that were saved from the rising waters of the Aswan High dam. They were submerged for three months of each year after the old dam went up at the turn of the last century but the water level was raised another 30 feet after the new dam went in circa 1970. So they had to be saved. A series of coffer dams were built around the temples and a new site was prepared. Then each block was tagged with a bolt and moved to the new location. Upon reassembly the blocks were mortared together because the original systems of holding them together were no longer in place.
We get on another boat
Ahmed took a while to pick the right one
So many to choose from
More swag to pick through
A cool looking guard shack
We are in
Our new goodies adorn our bodies
Up another set of stairs
To the complex
From the Ptolemaic period and older
Here are the remains of the coffer dams
The colors did not survive the move but the pillars are still mighty fine
Each block got a bolt with a number
Like Esna the pillars were all different
Built, deconstructed and built again
Papyrus and lotus
These remind me of security cameras
Back 1883 the graffiti took a long time
Another temple complex in the bag
Frank clowning
Very deep carving so no revisionists can come along later and change the head for another
The gift og a single rose, how romantic
I think this is a crown
Another beautiful day
Color matched gate
Coptic cross
The offering of the meatball sub!
Would you like cheese on that?
So much offering going on
Holding hands
Coming in for a hug
Egyptians invented field hockey
We are not on the menu!
The flowers and the crown of Upper Egypt
The island needed to be self sufficient due to high water, aggressive invaders or crocodile flotilla. So they have an industrial sized grain grinder
Measure the height to determine the tax rate
The steps mark the height
Cobra!
Pylons intact
How each block was identified and replaced in the correct position
An archeologist of some renown
The lady with Nubian treasures
Back over to our boats
As we leave
Lots of granite
The Blue Hippo!
