Agilkia island, Archaeological site on Nile River island in Aswan Governorate, Egypt
Agilkia Island holds the Temple of Isis with granite structures covered in hieroglyphic carvings and multiple rooms that face the Nile River. The buildings display fine reliefs and columns from different periods.
During the 1960s, engineers moved the entire temple from its original island of Philae to Agilkia to save it from rising waters. This was one of the largest rescue operations in archaeological history.
The Temple of Isis served as a major pilgrimage destination for Egyptian believers across centuries and was later adapted for Christian worship by local communities. You can see inscriptions and images from different religious periods layered alongside each other on the walls.
Visitors take motorized boats from Aswan to reach the island, with the journey taking about 15 minutes. Guided tours are available in the morning and afternoon, and you should plan at least 2-3 hours for a proper visit.
The island's surface was deliberately reshaped to match the topography of the original Philae Island, so the relocated temple would sit in a landscape that mirrored its ancient setting. This meant workers had to recreate the natural contours that the building once overlooked.
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