Ptolemaic Philae

This book examines the Ptolemaic temples of the island of Philae, in Upper Egypt. The temples were modified and extended during the course of the Ptolemaic dynasty and this detailed study presents the first full publication of the architectural development and relief decoration of this site. Separate chapters address the principles of decoration, the architectural development of the site, the attributes of the Pharaoh and deities, the evolution of the human figure in the reliefs and, finally, artisan work methods. A computer facilitated the recording of the 29 variables associated with each of the 824 offering scenes. This approach, adaptable to other sites, allowed the handling of an otherwise unmanageable amount of information. The computer database is printed in full, with tabulated information gathered from it. The 1274 drawings illustrate all the offerings, crowns, clothing and other attributes depicted in the relief decoration at Philae. The plates illustrate the architectural details, the work methods of the artisans and the changing rendering of the human figure during the course of the Ptolemaic dynasty.