Philae Temple: Rescued from the Flood

An illustrated stories story from Wonder Books — free to read, with narration.

Philae Temple: Rescued from the Flood — an illustrated stories story, set in Egypt. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Philae Temple: Rescued from the Flood — book cover — Wonder Books
Philae Temple: Rescued from the Flood — an illustrated stories story, set in Egypt. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

"Wow!" Nikhil exclaimed, pointing at a large stone block. "Look at the carvings on this one, Stefan!" Lila peered over their shoulders.
"Wow!" Nikhil exclaimed, pointing at a large stone block. "Look at the carvings on this one, Stefan!" Lila peered over their shoulders. "It's a relief block from Philae Temple," she read from the museum placard. "It says here that the temple was almost lost forever. Imagine!"

"Wow!" Nikhil exclaimed, pointing at a large stone block. "Look at the carvings on this one, Stefan!" Lila peered over their shoulders. "It's a relief block from Philae Temple," she read from the museum placard. "It says here that the temple was almost lost forever. Imagine!"

Page 2

Suddenly, the stone began to glow! Hieroglyphs shimmered, and the museum hall seemed to melt away. "What's happening?" Stefan cried, grabbing Nikhil's arm.
Suddenly, the stone began to glow! Hieroglyphs shimmered, and the museum hall seemed to melt away. "What's happening?" Stefan cried, grabbing Nikhil's arm. "It feels like we're being pulled inside the stone!" Lila gasped, shielding her eyes. "I think," she shouted over the swirling vortex, "we're going to Philae Temple!"

Suddenly, the stone began to glow! Hieroglyphs shimmered, and the museum hall seemed to melt away. "What's happening?" Stefan cried, grabbing Nikhil's arm. "It feels like we're being pulled inside the stone!" Lila gasped, shielding her eyes. "I think," she shouted over the swirling vortex, "we're going to Philae Temple!"

Page 3

They landed with a bump on a sandy shore. The air was hot and dry. "Where are we?" Stefan asked, brushing sand off his clothes. Lila pointed. "Look!
They landed with a bump on a sandy shore. The air was hot and dry. "Where are we?" Stefan asked, brushing sand off his clothes. Lila pointed. "Look! It's Philae Temple! But it's surrounded by water!" Nikhil stared in disbelief. "It's flooding!"

They landed with a bump on a sandy shore. The air was hot and dry. "Where are we?" Stefan asked, brushing sand off his clothes. Lila pointed. "Look! It's Philae Temple! But it's surrounded by water!" Nikhil stared in disbelief. "It's flooding!"

Page 4

An old priest emerged from the temple, wading through the water. "Welcome, travelers," he called out, his voice echoing across the waves. "I am Amenhotep.
An old priest emerged from the temple, wading through the water. "Welcome, travelers," he called out, his voice echoing across the waves. "I am Amenhotep. Philae is in great danger! The Aswan Dam is causing the river to rise, and our temple will be lost forever beneath the water."

An old priest emerged from the temple, wading through the water. "Welcome, travelers," he called out, his voice echoing across the waves. "I am Amenhotep. Philae is in great danger! The Aswan Dam is causing the river to rise, and our temple will be lost forever beneath the water."

Page 5

"The Aswan Dam?" Nikhil asked. "But that was built in the 1960s to control flooding!" Amenhotep sighed. "It also threatens ancient sites like Philae.
"The Aswan Dam?" Nikhil asked. "But that was built in the 1960s to control flooding!" Amenhotep sighed. "It also threatens ancient sites like Philae. We must find a way to save it! I read once, 'The measure of intelligence is the ability to change,' as Albert Einstein said, but what can we do?"

"The Aswan Dam?" Nikhil asked. "But that was built in the 1960s to control flooding!" Amenhotep sighed. "It also threatens ancient sites like Philae. We must find a way to save it! I read once, 'The measure of intelligence is the ability to change,' as Albert Einstein said, but what can we do?"

Page 6

Lila snapped her fingers. "Wait a minute! I remember reading about this!" She rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a book.
Lila snapped her fingers. "Wait a minute! I remember reading about this!" She rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a book. "It says here that UNESCO helped move Philae Temple stone by stone to a higher island, Agilkia! We have to convince the authorities!"

Lila snapped her fingers. "Wait a minute! I remember reading about this!" She rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a book. "It says here that UNESCO helped move Philae Temple stone by stone to a higher island, Agilkia! We have to convince the authorities!"

Page 7

"But how can we change the past?" Stefan asked, bewildered. Nikhil, remembering a diagram on the relief block, said, "The UNESCO relocation project used…
"But how can we change the past?" Stefan asked, bewildered. Nikhil, remembering a diagram on the relief block, said, "The UNESCO relocation project used floating platforms and cranes to move each block. We have to show them this design! Maybe that will give them the idea."

"But how can we change the past?" Stefan asked, bewildered. Nikhil, remembering a diagram on the relief block, said, "The UNESCO relocation project used floating platforms and cranes to move each block. We have to show them this design! Maybe that will give them the idea."

Page 8

They showed Amenhotep the diagram, and he understood immediately. Using his knowledge of ancient engineering and Lila's book, he convinced the authorities to…
They showed Amenhotep the diagram, and he understood immediately. Using his knowledge of ancient engineering and Lila's book, he convinced the authorities to start the relocation project. Workers began carefully dismantling the temple, block by block.

They showed Amenhotep the diagram, and he understood immediately. Using his knowledge of ancient engineering and Lila's book, he convinced the authorities to start the relocation project. Workers began carefully dismantling the temple, block by block.

Page 9

Years later, Philae Temple stood proudly on Agilkia Island, safe from the flood. Amenhotep smiled at them. "You have saved Philae.
Years later, Philae Temple stood proudly on Agilkia Island, safe from the flood. Amenhotep smiled at them. "You have saved Philae. Your knowledge of the future changed our past."

Years later, Philae Temple stood proudly on Agilkia Island, safe from the flood. Amenhotep smiled at them. "You have saved Philae. Your knowledge of the future changed our past."

Page 10

Suddenly, they were back in the museum, standing before the relief block. Nikhil touched the stone. "We helped save Philae Temple," he whispered. Lila nodded.
Suddenly, they were back in the museum, standing before the relief block. Nikhil touched the stone. "We helped save Philae Temple," he whispered. Lila nodded. "And we learned that even the smallest person can make a big difference," Stefan finished, smiling. "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change,' as Charles Darwin said."

Suddenly, they were back in the museum, standing before the relief block. Nikhil touched the stone. "We helped save Philae Temple," he whispered. Lila nodded. "And we learned that even the smallest person can make a big difference," Stefan finished, smiling. "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change,' as Charles Darwin said."

About this story

  • Location: Egypt
  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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