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Aswan History
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| Aswan: |
Since the period of the Old Kingdom, Sian was the door of Africa controlling the trade routes from the south to the north. It was the harbor and the market, its name is derived from Sianite or the red granite extracted from its quarries around. Opposite to Sian or Aswan, is Abou or the island of elephants, the capital of the first district in Egypt, housing the palace of its governor. Because of its geographical position, it had been chosen by
Eratosthenes to calculate the radius of the earth in 230 BC. Aswan gained more of its importance, after the high dam construction in 1972, it became a source of electrical energy and a water reservoir.
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Explore the historic of Aswan:
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Born more than 5000 years ago, Aswan has been the main market of the African products; (spices, leathers, ivory, fruits, grains, baskets, mummified and living crocodiles). It is the sunniest winter resort in Egypt, the Nile flowing through amber desert and granite islands covered with palm trees and tropical plants. Elephantine island, and also the ancient Nile meter measuring the floods. Botanical island, a small forest of tropical plants and birds.
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The High dam: |
One of the world's largest dams (2100000 kw) and its lake, the second in the world, spreads to Sudan (500 km. Long).
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Philae temple: |
Built at 2378 years ago, was transferred in 1972 to Aegilika Island which level is higher than that of the artificial lake. This temple was just dedicated to be the goddess Isis.
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Abu Simble: |
(280 km to the south of Aswan) Lake cruise, it goes up to allowing the passengers to visit a series of temples built by the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom (Kalabsha, Wadel Seboua, Amada, Abu Simble)
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The colored and spicy market of Aswan: |
One unique of its own kind of markets in All Africa not just Egypt.
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The Nubian museum: |
Housing the finest collection of Nubian arts and monuments
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Salvage of the Nubian temples: |
The lower Nubian is that part of the Nile valley lying in between the first and second cataract, its ancient name was Kush. Since the period of the Middle Kingdom, Kush was dominated by Egypt and assimilated gradually the Egyptian influence, the pharaohs of successive dynasties extended the building of their temples to Kush, which is completely submerged under the waters of the High Dam lake. In 1960, the UNESCO started a great world campaign to save the so-called Nubian temples, this successful campaign ended in 1972. Abu Simble temples (280 km to the south of Aswan) Built more than 3250 years ago by the great builder Pharaoh Ramses II, the temples entrances are guarded by the Pharaoh colossal statues. The two temples are completely dug inside the rocky mountain, these salvage took place in 6 phases:
Removing 300000 tons of rocks surrounding the temples, cutting the temple into 1036 blocks, and enumerating each one of them, transferring the 15000 tons of enumerated blocks to a higher ground level, reconstruction of the temples, reconstruction of the mountain surrounding the temples (the same phases were applied for the salvage of Philae temple lying between the High Dam and Aswan Dam).
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Kalabsha temples: |
(10 km to the south of Aswan): Built by the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom and restored by the Romans, dedicated for Egyptian and Nubian gods. Its original location was 40 km to the south of the actual one, and was transferred in the same way as Abu Simble.
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Wadel Seboua temples: |
(150 km. To the south of Aswan, 2 km north the original location) Built by Ramses II for Egyptian and Nubian gods.
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Amada temple: |
(180 km to the south of Aswan, 3 km north the original location) Built by the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom for Egyptian and Nubian gods. The best well preserved of Nubian temples, it was transferred in one block package on triple railways.
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