The city of Aswan is larger but much quieter than the city of Luxor. Is the beautiful and southernmost city in Egypt, sitting alongside some of the best stretches of the Nile, wide, green and dotted with pretty islands, with high desert hills topped with the Aga Khan's Mausoleum as a dramatic backdrop. The city of Aswan is situated in the ancient Nubian lands. Aswan is a winter tourist destination since the 19th century.
The natural beauty of Aswan is the biggest draw for tourists or travellers. The granite formations on the riverbank, the small islets in the middle of the river, and the lush palm trees add to charm of the city of Aswan, Egypt.
The city of Aswan is the place to be if you wish to soak in the local culture. Aswan's culture is a blend of Arab and Nubian influences, and the merry dancers and musicians of the town make you want to join in the celebrations. Usually in Aswan the life is laidback and peaceful, and the most hectic part of your Aswan tour involves shopping at the bazaar for colorful garments, handicrafts, and exotic perfumes.
Formerly the city Aswan is derived from the Ancient Egyptian word Swan, which means “the market”! It was situated on the main trading route between Egypt and the southern lands, where gold, slaves and ivory passed into Egypt. The governors of the 6th Dynasty sent many expeditions to explore the several African countries situated to the south, and most of these started from Aswan! It was also the major source of granite, sandstone and quartzite used in the construction of the various monuments throughout Egypt!
In Ancient times the major God of the town, was the God Khoum. However in later periods the Goddess, Goddess Isis of magic and maternity, became the main patron God, with a temple being built for her at Philae. Because of the location of Aswan, just north of the Tropic Of Cancer, the town enjoys a very hot climate throughout the year!.
Actually the major tourist attractions of the city of Aswan include the Unfinished Obelisk, the task of building which has remained incomplete over the millennia, and the Elephantine Island, with old ruins dating back to the Pharaonic Era.
History Aswan
Aswan is the ancient town of Swenet and The Ancient Egyptians called it Swen, which was in antiquity the frontier town of Egypt to the south. Because the Egyptians oriented towards the south, Aswan was the first town in the country, and Egypt was always conceived to open or begin at Aswan. For centuries, the city of Aswan was the gateway to Africa and the lands of Nubia. The Copts called it Souan, meaning 'trade', from which the present-day Aswan is derived.
In last time of Aswan, the quarries of Swan were celebrated for their stone, and especially for the granitic rock called Syenite. They furnished the colossal, obeliks, statues and monolithal shrines which are found throughout Egypt, including the pyramids. Also the traces of the quarrymen who wrought in these 3000 years ago are still visible in the native rock. Also, they lie on either bank of the Nile, and a road, 4 miles in length, was cut beside them from Syene to Philae. Swan was equally important as a military station and as a place of traffic.
Formerly in time of the Ptolemies and ancient Egyptians, the city of Syene stood south west of the present day town. Syene was located on the island of Yeb, or Elephantine Island, it was a major trade center with Nubia and the rest of Africa. The word Yeb, is Nubian for (elephant), therefore the Greeks called the island Elephantine Island. Habitually Yeb was where most of the ivory and gold trading would take place. Howeveer due to its strategic location, the city of Aswan was chosen as the first capital of Upper Egypt, and the Ptolemies used it as a base to enter Nubia, Sudan and Central Africa, and it was they who built the beautiful Temple of Philae.
Elephantine Island:
Located opposite modern Aswan in the Nile and has been settled since time immemorial, and its fortress city of Yebu or Abu, became the border post between Egypt and Nubia early in the Old Kingdom. Local governors, known as the "Guardians of the Southern Gates", were responsible for border security and trade with Nubia, for huge quarries for fine red granite, and mining in the desert hinterland of amethysts, quartzite, copper, tin and malachite.
The Nubian Museum
| The Nubia Museum harbors the history of the "Land of Gold" as the word Nubia in the Hieroglyphic, language of ancient Egypt in which pictorial symbols. The Nubian Museum celebrates the culture and civilization of the Nubian region of Egypt from prehistoric times to the present. It is located in the city of Aswan, on the eastern bank of the Nile, 899 kilometres south of Cairo. The Nubian museum is a 3 storey building with an outdoor exhibition area. |
It houses the main finds of the UNESCO salvage campaign carried out at the time of the building of the High Dam, which eventually flooded that whole region. Another major exhibit is a diorama which shows the daily life of Nubian villagers. It's a community museum with an education section that organizes trips, lectures and workshops for schoolchildren, and cultural events for the public at large.
In the year of 1960, when Egypt built the High Dam in Aswan, Egyptologists and archaeologists the world over heeded UNESCO's appeal to salvage the monuments of Egyptian Nubia before the rising waters of Lake Nasser submerged them forever. However more than 60 expeditions ultimately joined the "Nubian Rescue Campaign", which resulted in the excavation and recording of hundreds of sites, the recovery of thousands of objects, and the salvage and translocation of a number of important temples to higher ground.
Eating and Drinking
Eating out in the city of Aswan offers variety of plates in fresh fish and also some nubian dishes such as okra in spicy tomato sauce. But you won't find any French food, and Chinese or Italian cuisine is limited to a few big hotels. Also the bazaar is good for street food, with fuul and liver sandwiches sold near the station end of the street, and fruit and nuts on every corner. Also, there are simple cafés for chicken and fish meals or kushari, and the usual array of juice bars and coffee houses.
In Aswan all the Corniche places are open till around midnight, the cafés in the bazaar may close earlier at around 10 or 11pm and the cheapest place for drinking is the bar in the Oscar Hotel.
Drink: The city of Aswan is much less strict on drinking alcohol than Luxor or Cairo, and several of the restaurants sell Stella (Egyptian brand not the Belgian brand) and Saqqara, both of which are lagers and comparable to European beers.
Some cheap Eats:
• Aswan Moon: Found on the Corniche and is distinguished by its castle. It is got a mock castle gate and floating extension. Cool by day, loud and lively in the night, a place to meet felucca captains and hear Nubian music. Do try the fish, chicken, veggie nosh and kab hala, all at very reasonable price. It is always fun here.
• El Medina: Situated in Sharia al-Souk, near the Cleopatra Hotel. It is Egyptian nosh is excellent, and unbeatable value. Chicken, rice, veggies, tahina, bread, salads and Coke. No alcohol.
• Aswan Panorama: Located on the Corniche waterfront opposite Duty Free. It serves a wide range of starters, so-called vegetarian dishes, iced drinks and herbal teas.
• El-Shatti: Located on the riverside, opposite Thomas Cook. Has many pleasant terraces, okay for drinking beer, but the food is often poorly cooked, and is Inexpensive.
• Mona Lisa: Situated near the Aswan Moon. A sweatbox during the summer, with painfully slow service at lunchtime, but the food is okay and the fruit juice cocktails delicious. Prices are lower than at the Aswan.
• Old Cataract Buffet: Located on the hotel terrace from 4pm to sunset. Earl Grey tea, sandwiches and cakes, after sunset the terrace is free for non-residents.
Bars and Clubs:
• Rowing Clubs: Situated on the Corniche. Think about drinking on the rooftop terrace of the Police Rowing Club, but avoid eating at the other ones at all costs!.
• Ramses Hotel: Also on the Corniche, usually runs a nightly disco 22:00 hours to 02:00 hours year round, it is usually free of charge to non residents. The beers here are a bit pricey.
Aswan Weather
The time of year is a major influence on people's level of activity. Situated near the Tropic of Cancer, Aswan is hot and dry nearly all the time, with average daily temperatures ranging from a delicious 23-30°C in the winter to a searing 38-54°C over summer. Late autumn and spring are perfect times to visit, being less crowded than the peak winter period, yet not so enervating as summer, when long siestas, cold showers and air-conditioning commend themselves, and the number of tourists dwindles.
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