Born in Stockbridge, Scotland, David Roberts became one of the best known painters of Middle Eastern monuments and other sites. He first visited Syria and Egypt in 1838, and in February of 1839 began the series of drawing that would become world famous.

Philae Temple was dismantled and reassembled (on Agilika Island about 550 meters from its original home on Philae Island) in the wake of the High Dam. The temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, is in a beautiful setting which has been landscaped to match its original site.