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| Aswan Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Aswan Aswan Anne Aswan is the major travel hub of the south of Egypt. The area has many things worth exploring - Elephant island, the Philae Temple, the Aswan dam and further afield Abu Simbel, which can be see as a day trip from here. Aswan and its surroundings were known as Nubia in ancient times. You will find that event today, Aswan had more of an 'African feel' to it than any other city in Egypt. Although you might want to give the 'Nubian dancers' performing in the expensive hotels a miss, getting a real taste of this ancient culture would be an excellent opportunity and an experience you will not forget - the Nubian Cultural center is a good option here. |
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| The city proper lies on the east bank of the Nile. Relax here, visit a few
mosques, but then prepare for an adventure. The bazaar runs along the
Corniche, which continues past the Ferial Gardens and the Nubian Museum, and
continues on to the Cemetery, with its forest of cupolas surmounted tombs
from the Fatimid period. Just east of the cemetery in the famous area
quarries is the gigantic Unfinished Obelisk. Just to the south of this, two
Graeco-Roman sarcophagi and an unfinished colossus remain half buried in the
sand. The west bank is really worth a visit. Take a walk (or a cycling trip) in the Nubian villages and green agricultural area near the Nile river or visit the many sites on the West bank: Tombs of the Nobles & Kubbet al Hawa The northern hills of the west bank (Kubbet al-Hawa meaning windy dome) are filled with the rock-hewn tombs of princes from the Old Kingdom to the Roman period. The 6th Dynasty tombs, some of which form linked family complexes, contain important biographical texts. Inside, the tombs are decorated with vivid wall paintings showing scenes of everyday life, hieroglyphic biographies and inscriptions telling of the noblemen's journeys into Africa. Monastery of St. Simeon The history of the monastery of St. Simeon dates back to the 7th century, and survived long as a Christian stronghold of southern Egypt until destroyed by Saladin in 1173. While still in use it housed 300 monks, and could in addition receive up to 100 pilgrims at a time. The monastery was surrounded by a 10 metre high wall, and doubled as a fortress. Apparently, the monastery did not return to its original use after Saladin's destruction. Elephantine Island Elephantine Island is the largest of the Aswan area islands, and is one of the most ancient sites in Egypt, with artifacts dating to predynastic periods. This is probably due to its location at the first Cataract of the Nile, which provided a natural boundary between Egypt and Nubia. As an island, it was also easily defensible. In fact, the ancient town located in the southern part of the island was also a fortress through much of it's history. At one time, there was a bridge from the mainland to the island. One of it's main attractions is it's Nilometer . Another major attraction is the ruins of the Temple of Khnum . Don’t forget to visit Animalia . It’s the small museum of guide Mohamed, who collected all kinds of Nubian products and objects from nature around Aswan and Lake Nasser. You’ll find a lot of information about daily life in Nubia and even connections with the history of the pharaohs. The botanical gardens on Kitchener Island Kitchner'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 Kitchner for his campaigns in the Sudan, and he moved their and created his garden, importing plants and trees from all over the world. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: www.adifferentegypt.com ________Sights Edit This [Add Sight] al-Hawwa's Tomb Edit This On the west bank of the Nile the cliffs are surmounted by the tomb of a marabout, Qubbet el-Hawwa, who was a local saint. Below are tombs of the local (pharaonic) nobles and dignitaries. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Kitcheners Island Edit This Just beyond Elephantine is Kitchener's Island (Geziret el-Nabatat). It was named for the British general Haratio Kitchener (185--1916) and was sent to Egypt in 1883 to reorganize the Egyptian army, which he then led against the Sudanese Mahdi. But the island is known for its garden and the exotic plants Kitchener planted there, and which continue to flourish today. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Mohammed Shah;s Tomb Edit This Upriver a bit is the tomb of Mohammed Shah Aga Khan who died in 1957. Known as the Tomb of the Aga Khan, it is beautiful in its simplicity. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Elephantine Island Edit This Elephantine Island is the largest island in the area. On the island you find many sightes going back to Pharaonic times and even further. type: Palaces World66 rating: [rate it] Old Aswan Dam Edit This The British built their dam as well, it was enlarged, expanded, but unable to control the Nile for irrigation. That's when the Russian's helped build the new dam. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] Philae Temple Edit This Philae Temple was also dismantled and reassembled ( on Agilika Island about 500m. 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. Its various shrines and sanctuaries, which include a temple of Hathor, a Birth House and two pylons, celebrate all the deities involved in the Isis and Osiris myth. At night you can visit a Sound and Light Show, "a magical experience as floodlit buildings are silhouetted against the volcanic rocks and more.. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Nubian Museum Edit This To get a taste of the southern egyptian civilization visit the Nubian Museum. It has many artefacts that give you some insight in life in ancient times here. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] St. Simeon Monastery Edit This The Coptic Monastery of St Simeon, which was built in the sixth century in honor of Amba Hadra, a local saint. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] _________Practical Information Edit This It is possible for tourists to life in a Nubian village and have real contact with Nubian population (in pharaonic history "the black pharao`s"), who will welcome you as one of them, not as a tourist. Although the local ferry takes you to Aswan centre in 15 minutes, living in a Nubian village feels like being far away from the mass tourist resorts. They learn about the Nubian culture and traditions and find back what is lost in the modern European life style: a relaxed atmosphere and a warm social community life. The Nubian civilization is one of the oldest in the world. Unfortunately, only the spoken Nubian language survived through the ages. There is no written language left, which makes it very hard to do research about the Nubian culture. That’s a pity, because the Nubian history is a very rich one: the old Nubia itself owned gold mines and the most important business route with the rest of Africa run through the Nubian area. Moreover, in the pharaonic period 2500 years ago the Nubians ruled over Egypt. In this period of the “black pharaoh’s”, Egypt reached great wealth. The Nubians - the primary people of the Nile between Aswan and Khartoum - are seemingly unrelated to other Nilotic or desert tribes of the same region, where they have lived as long as anyone can establish. In ancient times, when the region was known as Kush (covering parts of modern-day Egypt and Sudan), the pharaohs used the Nubians as mercenaries and traders - roles in which they are often depicted in tomb and temple art. Almost all of the XXV Dynasty ("Ethiopian" or "Kushite") pharaohs were of Nubian birth, and some claim that Cleopatra (or Kilu baba tarati - "Beautiful Woman") was a Nubian born near Wadi Halfa. Traditional Nubian life centred around villages of extended families, each with its own compound of domed houses. The people made a livelihood farming the verges of the river, planting date palms, corn and durra melons, as well as fishing and transporting trade goods. Socially and spiritually, the Nile formed the basis of their existence. The whole village celebrated births, weddings and circumcision ceremonies with Nile rituals, and, despite converting first to Christianity and then to Islam, they retained a belief in water spirits, petitioning them for favours. They also brewed beer and date wine. This way of life - which had existed pretty much unchanged for five millennia - was shattered by the Aswan Dams The first dam, built in 1902 and successively raised, forced the Nubians to move onto higher, unfertile ground: unable to subsist on agriculture, many of the menfolk left for Cairo and the cities, sending back remittances to keep the villages going. With construction of the High Dam, the Nubians' traditional homeland was entirely submerged, displacing the entire 800,000-strong community. Around half of them moved north, settling around Aswan and Kom Ombo, where the government provided homes and assistance with agriculture and irrigation. The rest were repatriated to Sudan, where many ended up in the Kassala/New Halfa area, a thousand miles to the south. More information www.adifferentegypt.com __________Tours and Excursions Edit This Practical advice for all travellers booking cruises and fellucca trips in Egypt is to confirm the itinerary dates and places to be visited in detail. If you are in any way unsatisfied please speak to the touris police or tourist authority when you reach your destination. |