. . . .The first pylon in the temple of Isis was built during
the reign of Ptolomy VII.
Although beautiful in its proportions and decorations
the scale of this and the second pylon are smaller than most you will
find in Egypt. This one stands
only about 60 feet high. It is unusual that it has two doorways in it.
The opening on the left leads to one of the best preserved birth houses in Egypt. The birth house
was built
here by the workers of Ptolomy VIII and dedicated to the birth of
Isis's son Horus. The damage done to the carvings on this pylon
are strikingly evident in the photo
on the right. Images of
Isis and other gods are mirrored on either side of the door. Those on
the left side have been systematically defaced while those on the right
were left alone. This was done in an effort to convince the followers
of Isis to abandon her cult. Isis was perhaps the most popular goddess
of this time, her cult was not ended here until the Emperor Justinian forced the closure of the temple in
535 AD. Christians took over these buildings and converted them into
churches. The cross you see on the lower right of this close up on the
right was
carved around this time. |
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