TRAVEL EGYPT TOURS
Nubia
The land of Nubia extends from the North of Aswan to the South of the Sudanese borders with Egypt. Aswan, being the Southern gate into Egypt, had always been of strategic and commercial importance for the ancient Egyptians and many military campaigns were carried out by the Pharaohs to take control of this area that was rich with ivory and the finest types of wood.
The ancient Egyptian took full control of Nubia during the reign of the New Kingdom especially after the successful military campaigns held in the middle of the 16th century BC by Ahmose, the founder of the 18 dynasty and the king who was able to expel the Hyksos out of Egypt.
The Pharaohs of Egypt, during the period beginning from the era of the New Kingdom to the Roman period, have constructed many temples in the South of Aswan, in the lands of Nubia between the first Cataract to the North and the second Cataract to the South.
Temple of Amada
The temple is located 20 km to south of Wadi es-Sebua, in the area is also the temple of El-Derr and the tomb of Aniba. Amada is located at 115 km south of Aswan.
The temple was built at the time of the new kingdom by king Thutmosis III and Amenhotep II, It was dedicated to the god Amon Ra, and Ra Hor –Ahkty. Additions were built later by king Thutmoes IV and it was renovated at the time of king Seti I. In this temple king Thuhmosis II venerated the middle kingdom king Senusert III of the 12th dynasty, honoring the victorious campaigns that king Senuserthave conducted in the land of Nubia.
Wadi El Seboua
It is located 150 km south of Aswan, and is built by the famous king Ramsis II and it is considered the second biggest temple of the Nubian temples after the great temple of Abu Simbel.
The temple consists of an entrance with a pylon, an open courtyard, a hypostyle hall and an inner sanctuary. The walls of the temple are decorated with many religion scenes and important relief, During the Christian era many parts have been converted into a church.
This temple like most of the other Nubian monuments have been rescued and relocated 4 km north from its original location to escape the rising water of Lake Nasser.
Temple of Derr
The Temple of Derr or el-Derr is a speos or rock-cut Egyptian temple built by Ramses II in Lower Nubia. It is the only rock-cut temple in Nubia which was constructed by Ramses II on the
right bank of the Nile. The temple's unique position "was probably because the river on its approach to the Korosko bend flows in an unnatural' southeasterly direction. The Derr structure was known in ancient times as 'The Temple of Ramses-meryamun (Ramesses II) in the Domain of Re and was dedicated to the god Ra-Horakhty
Temple of Dakka
Ad-Dakka was a place in Lower Nubia.
The Greco-Roman Temple of Dakka was dedicated to Thoth, the god of wisdom.
It was initially a small one-room shrine or chapel, first begun in the 3rd century BC by a Meroitic king named Arqamani (or Ergamenes II) in collaboration with Ptolemy IV who added an antechamber and a gate structure.
During the construction of the Aswan dam in the 1960s, the temple was dismantled and moved to the site of Wadi es-Sebua.
At the time of its removal, some reused stone blocks from Thutmose III, Seti I and Merneptah were discovered which originated from an earlier New Kingdom structure in or near Kubban.
The temple's pylon is now separated from the remainder of the temple due to the missing enclosure walls of the open court.
The Temple of Maharraqa was also moved and rebuilt at the New Wadi es-Sebua temple complex area.
Temple of Moharka
Small temple that goes back the end of the Greco-Roman period, it is very simple since it is consisting of one hall with columns decorated with composite capitals.
Kalabsha Temple
Kalabsha, which is now flooded by Lake Nasser, was located at the westbanks of the river Nile. The temple, which has been consecrated to Merwel (Greek name: Mandulis) - a Nubian God of the Sun - had been built 29 - 14 BC, about 40 km south of Aswan.
Is called after the village of Kalabsha which is located 65 km south of Aswan Dam. The city was known in ancient times with temples, and later in Greek times was called Talames.
The temple is back to the roman times of roman emperor Augustus, later other emperor have contributed for the construction, such as Kaligula and Trajan.
Originally was built on much early site that dates back to the 18th dynasty and most probably goes back to king Thothmosis and Amenhotep II.
The temple is considered among the most complete temples in all of Nubia.
The second temple, northwest of Kalabsha-Temple, is called Beit al Wali (House of the Govenor), which has been built by the viceroy for Ramses II. Ramses has ordered to cut in the rock near Kalabsha, to honour Amun-Re. On the walls of the forecourt impressing reliefs are preserved: fighting scenes with Syrian and Libyan on the right side, Ethiopians on the left. One can get goose pimples watching Ramses gripping the hair of his enemies prior to smashing their brains while women beside plead for mercy.
Kiosk of Kertassi
Kertassi had been dedicated to Isis (like Philae). It is famous for its two Hathor Columns, lovely to see in front of Lake Nasser, with four fine papyrus columns.
In addition to the temples there is an exhibition of stones from (probably the "Neolithic Age" with designs from elephants, antelopes and hunters
Besides sightseeeing, the site of Kalabsha gives a good opportunity to have a nice view across Lake Nasser. This excursion can be well combined to a one-day-excursion with visits of High Dam, Philae Temple and Unfinished Obelisk.
Temple of Gerf Hussein
The Temple of Gerf Hussein was constructed during the reign of Ramses II, the most famous builder in ancient Egypt, during the 13th century and the historical records assert that it was a magnificent structure.
The original location of the Temple of Gerf Hussein was 87 km South of the First Cataract. The Temple was recorded in many journeys of travelers and historians during the 19th and the 20th century.
The Temple of Gerf Hussein was said to be a masterpiece of the ancient Egyptian art and crafts of the laborers who used to work in the gold mines that flourished in the period of Seti I and his son, Ramses II.
The ancient Egyptian name for the Temple of Gerf Hussein was the House of the Worship of the God Ptah. It was one of the most remarkable constructions erected in Nubia by Ramses II as well as the Temple of Beit Al Wali and the astonishing Temple of Abu Simbel.
Ramses II, the same as many other Pharaohs of the New Kingdom gave special attention to Nubia knowing that governing this area means controlling the important trading routs between ancient Egypt and Nubia, situated in the South of the city of today Aswan.
After the construction of the High Dam in the 1970s, the remains of the Temple of Gerf Hussein were transferred from its original location to the Kalabsha Island, together with three more temples; Kalabsha, Beit El Wail, and Dakka.
nubian temples
Nubian Temples
Many of these temples were rescued due to the efforts of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, The UNESCO project relocated many of these structures like Qaser Ibrim, the Temple of Dakka, the Temple of Derr, the Kalabsha Temple and the magnificent masterpieces of Philae and Abu Simbel.
One of the less fortunate temple that was damaged by the water of the Lake Nasser but was successfully relocated is the Temple of Gerf Hussein but lost many of its magnificent sections.
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