General view of the island of Philae, Nubia - ideal for an immersive and scholarly atmosphere - David Roberts, Egypt and Nubia 1838

Color lithograph: General view of the island of Philae, Nubia

Philae Island, located at the eastern end of the First Cataract Islands of the Nile, is a historical and architectural treasure. Known as "Giesirel el Berbe el Ghassir" or the Island of Ruined Temples, it is one of the most fascinating sites in Nubia. David Roberts, the renowned Scottish painter, described it as "paradise amidst desolation," a striking contrast to his own homeland. From the nearby island of Bigge, Roberts captured the grandeur of Philae, with its ancient temples surrounded by lush greenery and the shimmering Nile in the background.

Philae was revered as the most sacred site in Egypt, dedicated to Osiris, Isis, and Horus. Its imposing temples and fortifications bear witness to its former splendor. Roberts highlights not only the site's scenic beauty but also its historical and spiritual significance. The island, with its ancient remains and landscapes set against the blue of the Nile, remains a source of wonder and a symbol of Egyptian heritage.

Reproduction of an engraving of a drawing by David Roberts (1796-1864) made during his three-month journey from Alexandria to the temple of Abu Simbel in Nubia, a journey of more than fifteen hundred kilometers.

His drawings were already the subject of considerable success during his lifetime, in particular those published between 1846 and 1849 in the form of three volumes, published in London by FG Moon and entitled Egypt and Nubia, made from the drawings and sketches made during this trip to the banks of the Nile during the winter of 1838-1839, and lithographed by Louis Haghe.