Image Gallery
Shrine of Ptolemy VIII & Cleopatra II
Shrine of Ptolemy VIII & Cleopatra II, originally from the Temple of Isis, Philae, found reused in a Coptic church, Ptolemaic Dynasty, reign of Ptolemy VIII, c. 170-116 BCE.
The shrine held a cult statue of the goddess Isis, who is mentioned in the inscriptions. It stood in one of the sanctuaries of one of her famous temple on the island of Philae. Holes on all sides of the recess hold held two door leaves and bolts. The statue inside was only revealed when the priests performed their daily rituals. The gap is flanked by papyrus columns, with a cobra frieze and winged sun-discs at the top. The shrine is one of four placed in the temple by King Ptolemy VIII and his wife, Queen Cleopatra II. On the base, stand two figures of the king with raised arms. He supports the sky (represented as a horizontal band) and with it, the statue that stood inside the shrine. Due to its isolated location, the Isis temple at Philae stayed longer in operation than any other Egyptian temple, well into the Christian era. It was closed around 535 CE by order of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian.
The British Museum, London.
Questions & Answers
When did ancient Egyptian architecture begin and end?
- Ancient Egyptian architecture developed during the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150-2613 BCE) and continued through the Ptolemaic Dynasty (323-30 BCE) and then, sporadically, during the Roman Period of Egypt (30 BCE-646 CE).
What is the first pyramid built in Egypt?
- The first pyramid built in ancient Egypt is Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara c. 2670 BCE.
What inspired ancient Egyptian architecture?
- Ancient Egyptian architecture was inspired and informed by the concept of ma'at (balance, harmony) and stability. Buildings were designed to represent the order established by the gods.
What is the most famous architecture in Egypt?
- The Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx are the most famous pieces of architecture from ancient Egypt.
