Aswan
Aswan
Due to its location below to the northern-most cataract on the Nile, Aswan marked the traditional southern frontier of Egypt with rival Nubia. Throughout ancient history the Nubians competed with the Egyptian pharaohs for territory and influence as their power ebbed and waned; however, Aswan remained the natural border between them.
It was not only a political boundary, but also a natural economic intersection and the city thrived as a trading post and gateway between Egypt and the rest of Africa. North of Aswan the river is navigable all the way to the Mediterranean Sea so overland trade routes, caravans of elephants and camels carrying valuable goods from the south, converged here to load their goods onto boats traveling north Egypt and beyond.
Aswan’s location at the cataract has continued to shape its history even in modern times. During Egypt’s colonial era, Aswan was a staging ground for Anglo-Egyptian forces heading south to quell unrest in Sudan. After this at the close of the 19th century, Aswan grew into a tourist destination with its warm winter weather attracting European travelers, who sought to escape the cold in their homelands.
Today it is still a must-see tourist destination in Egypt, famous for beautiful scenery along the Nile and the Nubian culture that is still a strong influence in southern Egypt. Construction of the controversial High Dam in 1964, displaced nearly 100,000 Nubian people who lived along the banks of the river. Many of these people now live in and around Aswan and make a living from tourism either by manufacturing and selling traditional Nubian goods or in other cultural displays.
Aswan is a relaxing Destination
It is the smallest of Egypt’s major touristic cities, but it also bears the distinctive mark of the more relaxed Nubian culture. Those interested in Pharaonic history cannot pass up Aswan because of the impressive Philae Temple nearby, located on an island behind the old Aswan Dam, and the famous Abu Simbel Temples several hours south along the banks of Lake Nasser.
The Unfinished Obelisk
Aswan was also the source of much of the granite used in ancient construction projects and some of the quarries are open to tourists today—a highlight being the Unfinished Obelisk. This huge obelisk would have stood 140 feet in height, the largest even in Egypt. It was to be carved from the Red Aswan granite that decorate many of Egypt’s greatest monument and for which the city is famous. This greatest of all of Egypt’s monoliths, however, was never finished. At a late stage in its formation, a flaw in the rock was discovered and it was abandoned. Despite all of this, the real centerpiece of Aswan is the beauty of the river and the Nubian people. Sailing on the swirling, translucent blue waters of the Nile to visit one of the island villages near the city is sure to be a highlight of any trip.
Nasser Lake
Cruising Lake Nasser is one of the best ways to blend splendor with beauty, and a great way to relax and discover the sights of the ancient Pharaohs. From the decks of a felucca, a traditional wooden sailing boat, or a luxury boat you can see many temples along the way. On the shores of Lake Nasser, there is the wonderful site of the Great Temples of Abu Simbel for Ramses II, and the small temple of Abu Simbel for Nefertari.
Islands
Kitchener’s Island
Kitchener’s Island is a botanical garden filled with exotic plants and trees imported from all over the world. It is a perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon in the shade. The island must be reached by boat, and is located on the other side of Elephantine Island from Aswan. The Island was given to Lord Kitchener for his campaigns in Sudan, and he moved there and created his garden, importing plants and trees from all over the world.
Elephantine Island
The island of Elephantine is the largest island in Aswan and one of the oldest sites in Egypt, dating back to the pre-dynastic period. The name Elephantine means elephant in Greek, and the island was known as Abu, or Yabu, which also means elephant, probably because it was a key trading center for ivory, among other commodities. It features lavish gardens, numerous artifacts that are mostly in ruins, a Nubian Village, and a Nilometer used to measure the level of water in the Nile.
Aswan Cultural Centre
One of Aswan's attractions is its Cultural Centre. Every night Nubian dancers and musicians give performances just off the cornice, and folklore troupes recreate from village life and perform the famous Nubian mock stick-fight dances.
The High Dam
The world-famous High Dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s. Today it provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt and, together with the old Aswan Dam, 6 km downriver; it is a wonderful view for visitors.
Legendary Temples
The Temples of Abu Simbel
Situated near Egypt’s southern borders with Sudan, 280 km south of Aswan, the Temples of Abu Simbel are amongst the most interesting of all Pharaonic temples. There are two temples cut into the rock dating back to king Ramses II - one is for Ramses and the other for Nefertari.
The Great Temple
Ramses II built this for himself to be adored beside the gods Amun-Re, Re-Horakhty, and Ptah. It is 33m high and 38m wide and 56m deep. King Ramses II built this temple for himself not only as a king but also as a god as the facade of the temple shows how king Ramses was worshiping himself as a god. It also showed him as a warrior and after that as a peace maker when he signed the first peace treaty in history and married the daughter of the Hittites.
Temple of Nefertari
The Temple of Queen Nefertari is located 120m from the Temple of Ramses II and was also built by Ramses II, dedicated to the Goddess Hathor and to his wife Queen Nefertari. Queen Nefertari was the principal, and the most beloved, wife of King Ramses II. It is also a rock-cut Temple with a façade of about 28m long and 12m high, which contains 6 standing colossi, each one being about 11m in height. Four of them represent Ramses II and the other two represent Queen Nefertari, each accompanied by two smaller figures of their children.
The entrance leads to a square hall, which is supported by 6 Hathor-headed pillars decorated with scenes depicting the King and the Queen making offerings to different deities. At the end of the hall there is a doorway leading to a transverse vestibule decorated with scenes of King Ramses II making offerings to Re-Horakhty, while the Queen is presenting flowers to Khenum, Sat-tet and Anket.The Transverse Hall leads to the Sanctuary, which contains a niche in the rear wall with a statue of Goddess Hathor, as a cow, protecting Ramses II.
The view from this place is incredible. Imagine yourself in the middle of the desert, and at the shores of Lake Nasser. The temples got world fame when an international UNESCO operation was needed to save them from the rising water of Lake Nasser. The bright colors in the carvings are essentially intact.
Due to its location below to the northern-most cataract on the Nile, Aswan marked the traditional southern frontier of Egypt with rival Nubia. Throughout ancient history the Nubians competed with the Egyptian pharaohs for territory and influence as their power ebbed and waned; however, Aswan remained the natural border between them.
It was not only a political boundary, but also a natural economic intersection and the city thrived as a trading post and gateway between Egypt and the rest of Africa. North of Aswan the river is navigable all the way to the Mediterranean Sea so overland trade routes, caravans of elephants and camels carrying valuable goods from the south, converged here to load their goods onto boats traveling north Egypt and beyond.
Aswan’s location at the cataract has continued to shape its history even in modern times. During Egypt’s colonial era, Aswan was a staging ground for Anglo-Egyptian forces heading south to quell unrest in Sudan. After this at the close of the 19th century, Aswan grew into a tourist destination with its warm winter weather attracting European travelers, who sought to escape the cold in their homelands.
Today it is still a must-see tourist destination in Egypt, famous for beautiful scenery along the Nile and the Nubian culture that is still a strong influence in southern Egypt. Construction of the controversial High Dam in 1964, displaced nearly 100,000 Nubian people who lived along the banks of the river. Many of these people now live in and around Aswan and make a living from tourism either by manufacturing and selling traditional Nubian goods or in other cultural displays.
Aswan is a relaxing Destination
It is the smallest of Egypt’s major touristic cities, but it also bears the distinctive mark of the more relaxed Nubian culture. Those interested in Pharaonic history cannot pass up Aswan because of the impressive Philae Temple nearby, located on an island behind the old Aswan Dam, and the famous Abu Simbel Temples several hours south along the banks of Lake Nasser.
The Unfinished Obelisk
Aswan was also the source of much of the granite used in ancient construction projects and some of the quarries are open to tourists today—a highlight being the Unfinished Obelisk. This huge obelisk would have stood 140 feet in height, the largest even in Egypt. It was to be carved from the Red Aswan granite that decorate many of Egypt’s greatest monument and for which the city is famous. This greatest of all of Egypt’s monoliths, however, was never finished. At a late stage in its formation, a flaw in the rock was discovered and it was abandoned. Despite all of this, the real centerpiece of Aswan is the beauty of the river and the Nubian people. Sailing on the swirling, translucent blue waters of the Nile to visit one of the island villages near the city is sure to be a highlight of any trip.
Nasser Lake
Cruising Lake Nasser is one of the best ways to blend splendor with beauty, and a great way to relax and discover the sights of the ancient Pharaohs. From the decks of a felucca, a traditional wooden sailing boat, or a luxury boat you can see many temples along the way. On the shores of Lake Nasser, there is the wonderful site of the Great Temples of Abu Simbel for Ramses II, and the small temple of Abu Simbel for Nefertari.
Islands
Kitchener’s Island
Kitchener’s Island is a botanical garden filled with exotic plants and trees imported from all over the world. It is a perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon in the shade. The island must be reached by boat, and is located on the other side of Elephantine Island from Aswan. The Island was given to Lord Kitchener for his campaigns in Sudan, and he moved there and created his garden, importing plants and trees from all over the world.
Elephantine Island
The island of Elephantine is the largest island in Aswan and one of the oldest sites in Egypt, dating back to the pre-dynastic period. The name Elephantine means elephant in Greek, and the island was known as Abu, or Yabu, which also means elephant, probably because it was a key trading center for ivory, among other commodities. It features lavish gardens, numerous artifacts that are mostly in ruins, a Nubian Village, and a Nilometer used to measure the level of water in the Nile.
Aswan Cultural Centre
One of Aswan's attractions is its Cultural Centre. Every night Nubian dancers and musicians give performances just off the cornice, and folklore troupes recreate from village life and perform the famous Nubian mock stick-fight dances.
The High Dam
The world-famous High Dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s. Today it provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt and, together with the old Aswan Dam, 6 km downriver; it is a wonderful view for visitors.
Legendary Temples
The Temples of Abu Simbel
Situated near Egypt’s southern borders with Sudan, 280 km south of Aswan, the Temples of Abu Simbel are amongst the most interesting of all Pharaonic temples. There are two temples cut into the rock dating back to king Ramses II - one is for Ramses and the other for Nefertari.
The Great Temple
Ramses II built this for himself to be adored beside the gods Amun-Re, Re-Horakhty, and Ptah. It is 33m high and 38m wide and 56m deep. King Ramses II built this temple for himself not only as a king but also as a god as the facade of the temple shows how king Ramses was worshiping himself as a god. It also showed him as a warrior and after that as a peace maker when he signed the first peace treaty in history and married the daughter of the Hittites.
Temple of Nefertari
The Temple of Queen Nefertari is located 120m from the Temple of Ramses II and was also built by Ramses II, dedicated to the Goddess Hathor and to his wife Queen Nefertari. Queen Nefertari was the principal, and the most beloved, wife of King Ramses II. It is also a rock-cut Temple with a façade of about 28m long and 12m high, which contains 6 standing colossi, each one being about 11m in height. Four of them represent Ramses II and the other two represent Queen Nefertari, each accompanied by two smaller figures of their children.
The entrance leads to a square hall, which is supported by 6 Hathor-headed pillars decorated with scenes depicting the King and the Queen making offerings to different deities. At the end of the hall there is a doorway leading to a transverse vestibule decorated with scenes of King Ramses II making offerings to Re-Horakhty, while the Queen is presenting flowers to Khenum, Sat-tet and Anket.The Transverse Hall leads to the Sanctuary, which contains a niche in the rear wall with a statue of Goddess Hathor, as a cow, protecting Ramses II.
The view from this place is incredible. Imagine yourself in the middle of the desert, and at the shores of Lake Nasser. The temples got world fame when an international UNESCO operation was needed to save them from the rising water of Lake Nasser. The bright colors in the carvings are essentially intact.