Aswan

  • The Train From Cairo we headed to Aswan via the overnight sleeper train. It was pretty uneventful and at least as good as Amtrack. The only exception was the sewage; it still dumps directly to the ground, no storage tanks. The food was pretty good, the cabin was plenty spacious, and the beds were comfortable-ish. ...and it ran on time!
  • DSC01212 Looking north, downstream, from the High Dam at Aswan.
  • DSC01213 Looking downstream. (Panorama)
  • DSC01214 A quarry near the dam.
  • DSC01215 The Aswan High Dam was completed in 1970 to control the flood waters of the NIle and provide a reliable source.
  • DSC01216 The High Dam is built above (to the south) of the old dam, Aswan Low Dam. The old dam was built in 1902 and was raised twice. After being almost topped in 1946, the decision was made to build a new larger dam upstream.
  • DSC01217 The construction of the High Dam resulted in the formation of Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes.
  • DSC01218 Looking south over Lake Nasser, supposedly filled with crocodiles.
  • DSC01220 Chris and Mona on a small boat headed to Philae Temple located on the Island of Agilkia. The island is located between the Low and High Dams.
  • DSC01229 Approaching Philae Temple, the temple and other structures were built from 380 - 145 BCE.
  • DSC01231 On the island, looking toward the Temple of Isis, built by the Ptolemy Pharaohs (Greek).
  • DSC01232 Columns from a ruined structure once supported a large ceiling.
  • DSC01234 Chris performing as "Atum". The creator god from which all other gods spring forth.
  • DSC01236 Carving depicting the a common theme of the Pharaoh making offerings to the gods.
  • DSC01237 According to folklore, touching this column will assist in becoming pregnant. These grooves have been made by years of women.
  • DSC01238 More grooves in a nearby column. Our guide didn't tell us what powers this column had. Many of the columns had similar grooves.
  • DSC01239 Looking down what was once a hallway. Them wall, columns and some of the ceiling are still intact.
  • DSC01240 The temple façade (or pylons) showing the Pharaoh and the gods to which the temple is dedicated; in this case Isis and Hathor.
  • DSC01241 Looking back from the temple entrance to the open courtyard. This would have been the only publicly accessible area of the temple complex.
  • DSC01242 Looking through the entrance to the second set of pylons. Notice the Coptic Crosses carved deeply into the stone. Many of the original carvings were damaged by the Christians.
  • DSC01243 The second pylon, again showing Isis and Hathor with the Pharaoh.
  • DSC01245 A Christian altar used during the Christian occupation of the temple. I guess they were into the whole reuse - recycle idea.
  • DSC01246 Entrance to the inner chambers, notice that heiroglyphics and scenes are carved into all available space.
  • DSC01248 Detailed picture of the nearby carvings. The center scene depicts the Pharaoh offering food to the Goddess Hathor.
  • DSC01251 Defaced scene of the Goddess Hathor suckling the God Horus. Hathor was most likely deleted by the Christians. In Egyptian mythology, Isis is the mother of Horus, however later Greek-influenced mythology often places Hathor as the mother of Horus.
  • DSC01255 Another scene. I really have no idea what is happening here. I think the woman with the ankh in her hand is a goddess, possibly Isis.
  • DSC01258 Looking down a corridor to the inner chamber. This is where the gold statues of the gods would have been kept. The temple priests would have brought the food and new clothes every day.
  • DSC01260 Looking down the same corridor, moving out of the temple.
  • DSC01262 The area around the Island of Agilkia. (Panorama)