HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsAswan
Egypt
Contents
10 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Aswan, Egypt’s southernmost city and a place where the pace of life slows to the rhythm of the Nile. For millennia, Aswan has served as a vital strategic and cultural hub, the gateway to Africa and the source of the…
Listen in the app2Philae Temple: The Pearl of Egypt
Our first stop is the magnificent Philae Temple complex, dedicated to the goddess Isis, the mother of Horus and the symbol of magic and motherhood. To reach this temple, you must take a short, scenic boat ride to Agilkia Island. …
Listen in the app3The High Dam: Taming the Eternal River
From the ancient, we move to the modern. The Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970, is one of the most important and controversial engineering projects in Egyptian history. …
Listen in the app4The Unfinished Obelisk: A Lesson in Failure
Now we visit the ancient granite quarries, the source of the distinctive red granite found in monuments throughout Egypt. Lying here is the Unfinished Obelisk, a giant monument still attached to the bedrock. …
Listen in the app5Elephantine Island: The Ancient Frontier
Take a public ferry or a private motorboat to Elephantine Island, the oldest inhabited part of Aswan. For over 5,000 years, this island was a fortress and a bustling trading post. …
Listen in the app6The Nubian Museum: A Cultural Sanctuary
To truly understand the people of this region, a visit to the Nubian Museum is essential. Opened in 1997 as part of the UNESCO campaign, the building itself is an architectural masterpiece that blends seamlessly into the…
Listen in the app7Kitchener's Island: The Botanical Retreat
For a change of pace, sail to Kitchener's Island, also known as the Aswan Botanical Garden. This entire island was gifted to Lord Kitchener in the 1890s after he served as consul-general in Egypt. …
Listen in the app8Felucca Sailing and the Old Cataract Hotel
No visit to Aswan is complete without experiencing a sunset from a felucca. These traditional wooden sailing boats have no engine, relying entirely on the wind and the skill of the Nubian captains. …
Listen in the app9The Aswan Souk: A Sensory Marketplace
Our final walk takes us into the heart of the city: the Aswan Souk, or Sharia el-Souk. This vibrant market stretches for several blocks parallel to the Nile. …
Listen in the app10Closing
As our tour of Aswan concludes, we return to the banks of the Nile. We have explored temples saved from the depths, walked through quarries that built empires, and shared the quiet joy of a desert sunset. …
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What is Aswan?
Aswan is a place in Egypt with 10 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Egypt |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 10 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 24.0934, 32.9070 |
| Last updated |
