ehgezAswan

It bears the name of the biggest Obelisk ever found situated in the northern area of the stone quarries of old Egypt in Aswan. Requested by Hatshepsut, she controlled together with Thutmose III who had rose to the throne as a kid one year prior.

Aswan was the wellspring of Egypt's finest rock, the hard stone old Egyptians used to make statues, and to decorate sanctuaries, pyramids and monoliths. In the Northern Quarries, around 1.5 km from town inverse the Fatimid Cemetery, is an immense disposed of monolith, which would have been the biggest of all, however was surrendered before it was totally removed.

Three sides of the pole, which is almost 42m long, were finished aside from the engravings. At 1168 tons, the finished pillar would have been the single heaviest bit of stone the Egyptians ever formed. A blemish showed up in the stone at a late stage all the while, in any case, so it lies where the baffled stonemasons surrendered it, still somewhat connected to the guardian rock.

After entering the quarry, steps lead down into the pit of the pillar, where there are old pictographs of dolphins and ostriches or flamingos, thought to have been painted by laborers at the quarry.

Archeologists trust that this extraordinary monolith was deserted when side-cracks showed up on it. The constructors started cutting this pillar from a solitary bit of bedrock. Had this unbelievable monolith been finished, it would have been one the heaviest if not the heaviest pillar ever cut in Ancient Egypt, weighing over a thousand tons and measuring around 42 m.

The unfinished Obelisk has given archeologists critical experiences into antiquated Egyptian stone-working systems. The pillar was an imperative image to the love of the sun in antiquated Egypt. A large portion of the Obelisk's raised in antiquated Egypt were because of religious and political reasons.

How to Get There?

Microbuses will drop you inside of a couple of minutes walk. Private taxis will charge about E£15.

The Temple of Kalabsha is found near Lake Nasser, close to the western end of Aswan High Dam. It was committed to the God Mandulis.

The Temple of Kalabsha (Temple of Mandulis) is an Ancient Egyptian sanctuary that was initially situated at Bab al-Kalabsha (Gate of Kalabsha), roughly 50 km south of Aswan. The sanctuary was arranged on the west bank of the Nile River, in Nubia, and was initially worked around 30 BC amid the early Roman time.

With the development of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s, the sanctuary, which was initially found 50 km south of Aswan, was undermined with submersion under the rising waters of the repository (Lake Nasser). In a German-financed operation, it was dismantled and reproduced at its present area.

Worked as a tribute to the Lower Nubian sun god, Mandulis, Temple of Kalabsha is one of Egypt's various old and memorable structures and a prime destination for explorers hoping to venture once again into the nation's unfathomable past. Worked amid the standard of Augustus around 30 BC, Kalabsh is known for its elaborate stone carvings and antiquated records engraved on the sanctuary dividers. The sanctuary was moved to its present area at New Kalabsha in 1970 and is in close closeness to the Kiosk of Qertassi and Beit al-Wali.

The name "Kalabsha" alludes to the first site of the sanctuary before it was moved. While the sanctuary was developed in Augustus' rule, it was never wrapped up. The sanctuary was a tribute to Mandulis (Merul), a Lower Nubian sun god. It was built over a before asylum of Amenhotep II.

The sanctuary is 76 m long and 22 m wide in measurement. While the structure dates to the Roman period, it highlights numerous fine reliefs, for example, a fine cutting of Horus rising up out of reeds on the inward drape mass of the sanctuary. From Kalabsha's asylum chambers, a staircase paves the way to the top of the sanctuary where one can see an amazing perspective of the sanctuary itself and the sacrosanct lake.

A few verifiable records were engraved on the sanctuary dividers of Kalabsha, for example, a long engraving cut by the Roman Governor Aurelius Besarion in AD 250, restricting pigs in the sanctuary and in addition an engraving of the Nubian ruler Silko, cut amid the fifth century and recording his triumph over the Blemmyes and a photo of him dressed as a Roman warrior on horseback. Silko was the Christian lord of the Nubian kingdom of Nobatia.

History of the Monastery

The seventh century fortification was initially committed to the fourth century nearby holy person Abba Hedra, who repudiated the world on the day of his wedding. It was modified in the tenth century and devoted to St. Simeon. From here the ministers went into Nubia, in the trust of changing over the Nubians to Christianity, until Salah Din pulverized the religious community in 1173.

Description of the Place

Encompassed by desert sands, Monastery of St. Simeon was based on two levels, the lower level of stone and the upper level of mud block, encompassed by 10 meter (3 foot) high dividers. The basilica has hints of frescoes, and close-by is the chamber where St. Simeon begged with his facial hair attached to the roof in the event that he nodded off. The cells with their mastaba (seat) beds, once gave convenience to around 300 inhabitant ministers and approximately 100 explorers. The keep going room on the right still has graffiti from Muslim travelers who stayed here in transit to Mecca.

The relinquished Monastery of St. Simeon is one of the biggest and best saved Coptic cloisters of all Egypt. The religious community is situated on a slope on the west bank close to the Aga Khan Mausoleum in Aswan and was once possessed by a great many occupants.

The development of the cloister started in the sixth century; however it's trusted that it was not finished until the seventh century. It was initially devoted to Amba Hadra, a cleric of Aswan and a holy person who lived in the fourth century. It is said that Amba Hadra, on the day after his wedding, experienced a memorial service parade which propelled him to experience the remaining years of his life as a loner.

Initially, the religious community had dividers ten meters high and towers which were utilized as post posts against foes. From its point on the highest point of the slope, the ministers could see for kilometers in all headings, and any way to deal with assault the religious community would be tough in delicate sand.

The religious community was remade in the tenth century, however wrecked in 1173 by Saladin, who expected that it may serve as an asylum of Christian Nubians who made invasions into southern Egypt.

These days, the lower level of stone is generally in place, yet the upper level of mud-block has vanished.

Inside the religious community there is a little church where symbols and artistic creations are still noticeable. The dividers are painted with photos of the witnesses and blessed messengers in brilliant hues and Byzantine style.

The Nile Valley is best known for being the land of ancient Egypt’s legacy with all its temples, museums and monument. When you’re in Aswan, take a break from its historic attractions and escape your hectic schedule to appreciate a different side of it and pay a daytime visit to the peaceful haven of the botanical garden of Aswan.

Overview of the Island

The island is oval shaped and covers an area of 17 acres; a length of 650 meters and width of 150 meters. It’s located on the Eastern bank of the Nile, the opposite side of the city of Aswan and Elephantine Island.

The Island is divided into 27 basins by 4 vertical pathways and 9 horizontal pathways. All the pathways are pink granite paved and shaded with royal palms or Rosytoneas with their marble white stems.

History of Kitchener’s Island

The reason behind the name “Kitchener’s Island” is that during his military service in Sudan in 1899, Lord Horatio Kitchener took over this island and made it headquarter for leadership of his campaign and a place of rest as well and it became known as The Lord’s House. Lord Kitchener, who had a great deal of passion for plants, turned the island into the exquisite Aswan Botanic Garden. He imported rare exotic plants and palms from the Far East, India and other African countries.

Soon after the lord’s departure in 1928, the ownership of the island was transferred from the Ministry of Irrigation to the department of scientific researches of the Ministry of Agriculture who choose to turn the island into a natural greenhouse of tropical and subtropical plants.

What to Expect to Find in the Botanical Garden

There are 7 basic groups of plants and trees can be found in the Botanical Garden of Aswan:

Woody trees: such as ebony, mahogany and sandalwood.

Tropical fruits trees: such as papaya, avocado and mango.

Medicinal and aromatic plants: such as clove, basil, rosemary and mint.

Spice plants: such as chili, cinnamon and ginger.

Ornamental plants: such as jasmine, tulip and petunia.

Oleaginous plants: such as coconut palms and olive trees.

Palm group: such as coconut palms and date palms.

You’ll find a small botanical and aquatic museum, water filters, irrigation pumping station and a cafeteria to serve the visitors with a place for kids. Rare species of birds such as doves, crows and ravens can be seen there too.

How to Get There

A felucca ride from and back to your hotel is available for around $10 including entrance fees. The ride should not take more than 25 minutes. You can also take a one-way motorboat or local ferry ride.

The island has 3 entrances; the main entrance is located on the northern point of the island, another in the middle and another on the southern point. The best way to gain full perspective of the island and save strolling is to enter through the main entrance and stroll down all the way through to the southern point, where your felucca man will be waiting to pick you back to your hotel.

Spread out along the banks of the Nile, Aswan is a casual and well disposed town that gives a peaceful break on the off chance that you've quite recently landed from Cairo. It's old Egypt's portal to Africa, this is a flawless base for investigating the sanctuaries and landmarks in the southern scopes of Upper Egypt and the region's particularly diverse Nubian society. The most ideal approach to find Aswan's charms is to jump on board a felucca (sailboat) and take a deep look into the town from the watery roadway that once made Aswan a vital exchanging post.

Here the most attractions in Aswan

Abu Simbel

Based on the west bank of the Nile River, between the first and second waterfalls of the Nile, the site of Abu Simbel is a standout amongst the most conspicuous antiquated locales in Egypt.

It contains two sanctuaries, cut into a mountainside, that were worked by pharaoh Ramesses II.

The entranceway to the sanctuary is exceptional, to the point that on two days of the year, October 22 and February 22, the light would sparkle into the internal haven and light up three statues situated on a seat, including one of the pharaoh. It's been theorized that these dates might praise his crowning ceremony and conception.

Philae Temple

The consecrated Temple of Isis  (known as Philae Temple) is one of Upper Egypt's most bewildering landmarks both for the lovely masterfulness of its reliefs and for the dazzling symmetry of its design, which made it a most loved subject of Victorian painters. Like Abu Simbel, the sanctuary was spared by the rising waters of Lake Nasser by UNESCO's salvage extend and moved the whole kit and caboodle from its unique home on Philae Island to adjacent Agilika Island where it sits today.

The Philae Temple, is an inside the old faction of Isis, which is the principle part of the Philae complex, however the island is additionally home to the Temple of Hathor and different structures from the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Monastery of St. Simeon

The brilliantly photogenic Monastery of St. Simeon sits between the sand hills on the Nile's West Bank. Established in the 7th century lastly relinquished in the13th century because of water deficiencies, it's one of the biggest and best protected Coptic cloisters in Egypt.

Inside the yard, an aisled Basilica takes up the southern side of the religious community. At the east end of the wide nave, once secured by two arches, is the expansive apse, with three rectangular specialties under semi vaults. In the focal corner are the remaining parts of a fresco delineating Christ enthroned between heavenly attendants. Toward the north and west of the congregation are different auxiliary structures and little grottoes, while the eastern side is comprised of living quarters. Upstairs, are some all the more very much protected barrel-vaulted living quarters, including the minister cells, with block quaint little inns and Arabic engravings upon the dividers.

Tombs of the Nobles

This arrangement of rock tombs etched out of the West Bank's bluffs.

The main tombs you enter are Tombs 25 and 26 where sixth tradition governors Mekhu and Sabni were covered. Up the way to the privilege is Tomb 31, fitting in with Prince Sarenput II, a contemporary of King Amenemhet II. This is one of the biggest and best protected tombs in the necropolis. Past the tomb chamber is a little passageway with three specialties on either side. Look to one side of the main corner to see a figure of the dead man and his child with brilliantly safeguarded hues.

Kalabsha Temple

Kalabsha Temple is the best safeguarded of the three sanctuaries here furthermore the most youthful, dating from the season of Roman Emperor Augustus. The most forcing landmark in Nubia after the Temple of Abu Simbel, it was based on the site of a prior sanctuary established by Amenhotep II and re-established amid the Ptolemaic Dynasty. The improvement was never finished and the reliefs that do exist are roughly executed. Amid the Byzantine time the sanctuary was changed over into a congregation.

Just toward the northwest is the Temple of Beit el-Wali worked by Ramses II and comprising of a vestibule, transverse chamber, and asylum. There are enthusiastic chronicled reliefs all through the inside portraying a significant number of Ramses II's fights and triumphs including the lord's triumph over the Kushites and his wars with the Syrians and Libyans.

Simon Mountain

For archeological-beasts, Aswan's Western Quarry makes an intriguing excursion. It was from here that quite a bit of old Egypt's most unmistakable statuary started their life; etched out of the slope of Aswan stone. Archeologists imagine that Luxor's mammoth Colossi of Memnon originate from this quarry. Today, you can in any case see the tracks where gigantic pieces of stone were dragged to the waterway for their trip down the Nile to beauty the sanctuaries of the pharaohs. There are no streets here, so in case you're up for a camel enterprise, a visit here is likewise a lot of fun.

Souq Area

Slap in the focal point of Aswan's downtown area, al-Souq is a gift seeker's fantasy. The slows down overflow with flavors and fragrances aplenty, conventional galebeyas (long robes) and scarves in rainbow tones, basketry, and flatware. It's a fun spot to scan and - generally - free from the seller hustle that you get in different parts of Egypt.