EN
The complex of temples and shrines situated on Philae Island, near the First Cataract of the Nile, was built in times of Ptolemaic kingdom. The Aswan Dam, built during 1892—1902, raised the level of the water and submerged the Osland for nine months each year. The total submerging of the Island took place after completing the Aswan Hig Dam in 1970. Then they started, with the help of the UNESCO, to save the buildings of great archeological value. This consisted in moving and reconstructing the most endangered buildings. Competition for the best works concerning the shifting of the Temple of Isis and the Kiosk of Traian was won by Italian-Egyptian joined companies. By 1978 these works are supposed to be completed. Till now a dam surrounding the Island has been built, which made it possible to pump out the water, and record piling has begun. About 40000 stone blocks of which the Temple has been built will be transferred from Philae Island to Agilkia Island. The la tte r is now being prepared for this operation, i.e. levelling and hardening of ground is being carried out. Such a gigantic undertaking is a good example of international enterprises aimed at p reservation of monuments of culture.