Aswan on the Nile: History and Excursions

Photo: Dago

Aswan on the Nile and in Nubia

Aswan lies on the eastern bank of the Nile, below the First Cataract. The city was Egypt’s southern gateway and a historic stopping point for traders arriving from Nubia by way of the Nile.

Elephantine, granite and Nubian history

Elephantine lies in the Nile, opposite Aswan. The island is one of the archaeological sites that document the long history of exchange along the river. The Unfinished Obelisk remains in the ancient granite quarries: cracks in the stone prevented its completion, leaving the monolith embedded in the bedrock. The Nubian Museum complements these remains with an account of the region’s history. The Monastery of St. Simeon and Aswan’s historic tombs are also among the notable destinations on the southern edge of the Nile Valley.

Philae: Temple of Isis on Agilkia

The Philae temple complex was built mostly during the Ptolemaic period. The principal temple was begun under Ptolemy II and dedicated to the goddess Isis; reliefs in the Birth House depict Isis with Horus. The sanctuary remained in use until Late Antiquity. A hieroglyphic inscription dated to 394 CE is considered the last dated inscription of its kind. The temple was later used as a Christian church, during which time inscriptions were destroyed. After the Aswan High Dam was built, the original island of Philae was threatened with inundation. As part of the international Nubia Campaign, the structures were moved to the neighboring island of Agilkia. The complex also includes a Temple of Hathor, built under Ptolemy VI and the Roman emperor Augustus.

Temples and routes on the Nile and Lake Nasser

Edfu and Kom Ombo lie north of Aswan. Farther south are the High Dam and New Kalabsha; Abu Simbel is located about 300 kilometers south of the city, according to the antiquities authorities. The Nile route between Luxor and Aswan and a trip on Lake Nasser are separate travel itineraries: Philae and the northern temples are on the Nile, while the southern Nubian monuments along the lake require a separate itinerary. The Nile cruise overview provides context for this stretch of the river; the port directory and the Egypt overview offer further regional information.