Ancient site · Gharbia
Behbeit El Hagar
An archaeological site on the Damietta branch of the Nile holding the remains of an Isis temple built entirely of granite, the Delta counterpart of Philae.
Listen to the guide
The story
Behbeit El Hagar lies in Gharbia Governorate on the Damietta branch of the Nile, about 7 km from Sebennytos and 8 km from Mansoura. Ancient Egyptian texts mention the site as early as the New Kingdom. The temple of Isis, the Iseion, was begun under Nectanebo II, and its decoration and additions were completed in the Ptolemaic period down to Ptolemy III. Unlike most temples, which were built of limestone or sandstone, it was built of granite. It later collapsed, possibly by an earthquake or by the removal of its stone for building, and only scattered blocks remain today.
Good to know
- The temple paralleled Isis's temple at Philae: Philae was her main cult centre in Upper Egypt and Behbeit El Hagar its Lower Egyptian counterpart.
- The Isis temple here was built of granite, which was unusual among Egyptian temples.