Night Excursion To Sound And Light Show at Philae Temple In Aswan
Night Excursion To Sound And Light Show at Philae Temple In Aswan
Article by Mariam Ahmed
Philae, being accounted one of the burying-places of Osiris, was held in high reverence both by the Egyptians to the north and the Nubians (often referred to as Ethiopians in Greek) to the south. It was deemed profane for any but priests to dwell there and was accordingly sequestered and denominated “the Unapproachable” (Ancient Greek: ????????). It was reported too that neither birds flew over it nor fish approached its shores. These indeed were the traditions of a remote period; since in the time of the Ptolemies of Egypt, Philae was so much resorted to, partly by pilgrims to the tomb of Osiris, partly by persons on secular errands, that the priests petitioned Ptolemy Physcon (170-117 BC) to prohibit public functionaries at least from coming thither and living at their expense. The Philae obelisk on which this petition was engraved was brought into England by William John Bankes. When its Egyptian hieroglyphs were compared with those of the Rosetta stone, it threw great light upon the Egyptian consonantal alphabet.
The islands of Philae were not, however, merely sacerdotal abodes; they were the centres of commerce also between Meroë and Memphis. For the rapids of the cataracts were at most seasons impracticable, and the commodities exchanged between Egypt and Nubia were reciprocally landed and re-embarked at Syene and Philae.
Visit Philae Temple at night to attend the Sound and Light Show is a magical experience. The floodlit buildings are silhouetted against the volcanic rocks and water surrounding them, creating a magical environment. Enjoy the spectacular lights of the multimedia presentations which vividly reveals the form and majesty of this ancient site and walk through the dramatically lit temple as its history is narrated. After the show your driver/guide will meet you at the gates of the complex to escort you back to your hotel. With your own private transportation on this tour, you will travel directly between your hotel or cruise ship and the Sound and Light Show without stopping to collect other passengers.
Inclusions• Pick up service from your hotel in Aswan and return• Entrance fees to Sound & Light Show• All transfers by a modern air-conditioned vehicle• All service charges and taxes
Exclusions• Any extras not mentioned in the program• Gratuities
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