Destination: Aswan & Abu Simbel – Album

Philae Island

On a small island,  south of the city of Aswan,  lies the beautiful temple complex of Philae.  Philae, once a great religious center, was dedicated to the cult of Goddess Isis.  Its sanctuaries belong mainly to Ptolemaic and Roman periods between the 4th century B.C. and 4th Century A.D.

The romantic and majestic aura surrounding the Philae Island has been luring pilgrims and tourist

Approaching the temple by motor boat

The Jetty in the far distance as you approach the temple complex

The entrance?and up you walk towards the Hall of Nectanebo

The Hall of Nectanebo, the oldest part of the Philae Temple Complex

The main temple dedicated to Goddess Isis, built by Pharaoh Ptolemy Xl

In the central court is the Mammisi (Birth house) dedicated to Horus, God of the sky, depicted as a falcon-headed man.

The Temple of Imhotep, Philae Island

Trajan?s Kiosk, built by Roman Emperor Trajan

Reliefs, Philae (Left); Devon playing hide and seek in the Philae temple complex..or is he ? (Right)

The outer temple court, Philae Temple Complex

The way to the inner sanctuary of Isis, Philae Temple Complex

The view outside from the sanctuary window, Philae Temple Complex

The Gate of  Ptolemy, Philae Temple Complex

View of the Nile from the Philae Temple Complex

A lone sea-bird ..Philae Temple area

The temples at Philae were also rescued by a joint operation between the Egyptian government and UNESCO,  as it was nearly submerged when the High Dam was built.

High Dam

The High Dam was completed in 1970, the construction work lasting 10 years.  Lake Nasser was the huge reservoir created when it was built. The then Soviet Union offered funding and expertise on the dam building. The benefits of the dam have been enormous.

In the background is the monument built to acknowledge the assistance rendered by the Soviet Union

The view of the Nile on the other side of the dam.

Lake Nasser

Lake Nasser,  named after late President Gamal Nasser, is the world?s largest artificial lake.

Lake Nasser displaced hundreds of Nubians and put ancient monuments at risk.

Lake Nasser view from Abu Simbel

Elephantine Island

No elephants here?called Elephantine Island because the rock formation here resembles a herd of  elephants. Settlement here dates back to 3000 B.C. Elephantine Island, is also home to one of the ancient Nilometers

Elephantine Island, note the Coptic Church in the background

Nubian Museum – houses several sarcophagi, mummies and a collection of antiquities discovered at Aswan and Nubia.  Highly impressive, but sadly no pictures were allowed.

Nubian Kids at the Nubian village, Aswan

At the Nubian Village, with a crocodile. Devon gingerly puts his hand in the crocodiles mouth.

Stuffed crocodiles at the Nubian Village.  We were offered a dinner of grilled crocodiles for a few dollars.. we politely declined the offer ;).

Agha Khan Mausoleum in the background, Aswan.  The Nubian people hold the Agha Khan and his wife in very high esteem.  The village head-man even showed us a school built with aid from them.

Agha Khan Mausoleum, Aswan

Noble Tombs, Aswan

The Cataract Hotel, Aswan.  The ‘Death on the Nile’ was filmed here.

Felucca on the Nile, Aswan

Sunset on the Nile, Aswan?the beauty of a sunset is always a splendor to behold. (had so many pictures of the sunset on the Nile was in a dilemma as to which to put up for our viewers pleasure)

A Nubian showing off his Sheesha?

Nubian fish sellers vending their wares, freshly caught fish.

Trees laden with oranges..waiting to be plucked

Alabaster

You cannot talk about Egypt without mentioning Alabaster, one of the pinnacles of Egyptian handicrafts.  The making of Alabaster art has been handed down from generation to generation. 

It is pure white or speckled with reddish brown and like all other types of gypsum, alabaster forms by the evaporation of bedded deposits that are precipitated mainly from evaporating seawater.

Alabaster Scarabs

Demonstrating how they create wonders from alabaster rocks

Hand painted art on Papyrus

Our son Devon has taken a keen interest in learning Hieroglyphics- his rough book is now splattered here and there with birds, snakes, waves, knives 😉

Laura, written in hieroglyphics(left);  The day of judgement, and life after death,  depicted in the painting (Right)

Author: Judith Serrao- UAE