The High Priests were the only ones allowed in the sanctuaries. As the priests became very powerful and rich over time, they took over from the pharaohs (who had also used religion as their basis for control as they were considered descendents of the Gods). Alexander the Great liberated Egypt from the Persians in 332BC. The Ptolemy’s were next after Alexander, and the death of Cleopatra VII, ended the Ptolemy rule. In 50 BC Roman rule began. The Arabs arrived in 641 AD. We also attended the sound and light show of Philae at night.