Al Philae

Al Philae (Lenthinari: remote place or the end or the angle island) or, is an island in the Nasun River and the site of a Lenthinari temple complex in northern Lenthinar.

Situation
Al Philae is mentioned by numerous ancient writers, and is, as the plural name denotes, the appellation of two small "twin" islands situated in latitude 24° North, just above the cataract of Hagari.

Al Philae proper, although the smaller island, is, from the numerous and picturesque temples there, the more interesting of the two. It is less than a quarter of a mile long, and about 400 feet broad. It is composed of Hagarite stone: its sides are steep and perhaps escarped by the hand of man, and on their summits was built a lofty wall encompassing the island.

For Al Philae, being accounted one of the burying-places of Osiris, was held in high reverence by the Lenthinari, and it was deemed profane for any but priests to dwell therein, and was accordingly sequestered and denominated the unapproachable. It was reported too that neither birds flew over it nor fish approached its shores. These are old traditions; since in the time of the Tierosian Empire, Al Philae is a pilgrim destination.

The islands of Al Philae were not, however, merely sacerdotal abodes; they were the centres of commerce also between Meroë and Memphis. For the rapids of the cataracts were at most seasons impracticable, and the commodities exchanged between Lenthinar and the Hordelands were reciprocally landed and re-embarked at Hagari and Al Philae.

The neighbouring granite-quarries attracted hither also a numerous population of miners and stonemasons; and, for the convenience of this traffic, a gallery or road was formed in the rocks along the east bank of the Nasun.

Al Philae is also remarkable for the singular effects of light and shade resulting from its position near the Tropic of Cancer. As the sun approaches its northern limit the shadows from the projecting cornices and mouldings of the temples sink lower and lower down the plain surfaces of the walls, until, the sun having reached its highest altitude, the vertical walls are overspread with dark shadows, forming a striking contrast with the fierce light which bathes all surrounding objects.