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An Egyptian Temple at Philae.
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| Title | An Egyptian Temple at Philae. |
| Creator | Holland, Frederick Whitmore, 1837-1880.
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| Description | Sinai and Jerusalem; or, Scenes from Bible Lands: Illustrated by Twelve Colored Photographic Views, Including a Panorama of Jerusalem, With Descriptive Letterpress. |
| Caption | AN EGYPTIAN TEMPLE AT PHILAE, HE Island of Philae, the name of which appears to be a Greek corruption of the Egyptian Pilak—" the frontier "—is situated a short distance above the first cataract of the Nile, which formed the boundary line, in ancient times, between Egypt and Ethiopia. It is celebrated for the beauty of its scenery, no less than for the ruins of its ancient temples. The waters of the Nile tear furiously down the cataracts, but above the river is broad and lake-like; and numerous islands, of strange fantastic shapes, stud its surface. On the banks huge blocks of porphyry and granite lie in wild confusion, many of them brightly polished by the action of the water, aided, probably, by the mud and sand which it carries down with it, and which render so fertile- the land that it floods. The calmness of the river, the feathery tresses of the palms, contrasting with the wildness of the surrounding rocks, and the massive walls and colonnades of the ancient temples, give a peculiar charm to the scene; and the traveller feels, as he enters Nubia, and looks down upon the island of Philoe, that there was, after all, some cause for the mysterious stories which the ancient Egyptians told of the neighbouring country of Ethiopia and its inhabitants. The temple here represented, though small in size, is of beautiful proportions. It is built upon a raised platform, and the architect appears to have chosen its position so as to add to its effect when seen from the river. Neither this, nor the great Temple of Isis, which stands on the eastern side of the island, are older than the time of the Grecian Ptolemies, by whose orders they were built in the third century before Christ. Though comparatively modern, they are, however, copies of that peculiar style of architecture which had belonged to former ages; and we see in them an attempt to restore the old Egyptian worship, and to revive the feelings of that ancient religion which existed long before the children of Israel went down into Egypt. During their long sojourn in that land, the Israelites did not escape |
| Date | 1870 |
| Publisher | London: Printed by Jas. Truscott and Son, Suffolk Lane, City. |
| Subject.Topical (LCSH) | Palestine -- Description and travel.
Sinai Peninsula -- Description and travel.
Jerusalem -- Description and travel.
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| Subject (Geographic) | Palestine
Sinai Peninsula
Jerusalem
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| Original Item Location | http://library.uh.edu/record=b3601783~S11 |
| Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
| Use and Reproduction | This image is in the public domain and may be used freely. If publishing in print, electronically, or on a website, please use the citation button above. To request higher resolution images, please use the Request High Res button above. |
| File name | meast_201009_031.jpg |
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