Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

406 ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE WORLD. Fig. 26.—THE TEMPLE ON PHILÆ ISLAND, WHICH WILL BE ALMOST COMPLETELY SUBMERGED WHEN THE ASSOUAN DAM HAS BEEN RAISED. oldest temple buildings standing on the island date from the reign of Nectanebo II., last native king of Egypt (350 b.c.). The chief monu- ments are the temples of Isis and Hathor, Hadrian’s Gateway, and the beautiful kiosk of the time of the Roman Empire, known as Pharaoh’s Bed. Philæ is referred to in one of the Thousand Nights and a Night, and by the natives is called Geziret Anas el-Wogud, after the hero of that particular night. “ I have already alluded,” said Sir William Garstin, “ to the regret that is felt by all those upon whom the unfortunate necessity has been imposed of recommending a Submersion , , . , , 3 • • . T .. ., course calculated to do miurv Unavoidable. . . to these picturesque and inter- esting relics of an earlier Egypt. By none is this regret more keenly felt than by me. I have repeatedly stated, in my previous reports upon the subject, that unless it was proved that no other alternative was possible, I would never recommend the raising of the Assouan Dam, and the consequent further submersion of the Nubian valley. I should certainly not do so now, were I not convinced that it is the only course possible, and that the decision now taken by the Government is one that can- not be seriously challenged.” Lord Cromer, in associating himself with these words of the Adviser to the Ministry of Public Works, and in giving his support to the new scheme, wrote : “ I have no hesitation in saying that it would not be justifiable to sacrifice the present and future interests of the people of Egypt in order to save the submersion of the temples.” Preparatory to the raising of the river level above Assouan, £20,000 was spent in under- pinning and consolidating the foundations gen- erally of the buildings on the island. The Nile would always seem to have de- manded its sacrifice. In early days propiti- atory offerings of gold were cast into its turbid waters. And an Arabian legend runs that yearly in ancient times a virgin, gaily decked as the “ bride of the Nile,” was flung into the river to ensure an abundant flood. Soon, for