Egypt Travel Part VII: Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple
Egypt Travel Part VII: Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple
Day 6 Monday, 18 Dec 2017
Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan
In the morning we left our cruise boat at Aswan and travelled to a place near the city to see an unfinished obelisk which was left attached to the bedrock in the quarries of granite over 3000 years ago. It was abandoned due to the formation of cracks in it. It was believed that the obelisk was ordered by Queen Hatshepsut(1508-1459 B.C.).
Ticket to see an unfinished obelisk in Aswan
Ticket to see an unfinished obelisk in Aswan
Office and entrance to see the unfinished obelisk in Aswan
Unfinished Obelisk office and entrance in Aswan, Egypt
A short video clip about the unfinished obelisk was presented in the Office
A room showing visitors a short video clip about the unfinished obelisk
The unfinished obelisk is located on a low hill of granite near the office, Aswan
Location of the unfinished obelisk
Tour group walking up a low hill to see the unfinished obelisk
Tour group walking up a low hill to see the unfinished obelisk
Tour group looking at the unfinished obelisk which was already cracked
Tour group looking at the unfinished obelisk which was already cracked
The unfinished obelisk that was abandoned over 3000 years ago due to the formation of cracks in it
The unfinished obelisk that was abandoned over 3000 years ago
The unfinished obelisk was abandoned by Queen Hatshepsut(1508-1458) because it had formed cracks
The unfinished obelisk ordered by Queen Hatshepsut(1508-1458 B.C.) was abandoned over 3000 years ago due to the formation of cracks in it.
Writer, wife, brother and sister-in-law at the site of the unfinished obelisk
Writer, wife, brother and sister-in-law at the Unfinished Obelisk site
Tour members, Peter Lim, and family were at the site, too.
Peter Lim and his happy family at the unfinished obelisk site, Aswan, Egypt
Visiting Aswan High Dam
After seeing the unfinished but cracked obelisk, we travelled on the road to a large dam known as Aswan High Dam. We entered the dam area with a ticket. It was heavily guarded by soldiers.
Ticket to visit Aswan High Dam, Egypt
Ticket to visit Aswan High Dam
Purposes of Aswan High Dam
The dam was built across River Nile in Aswan in 1960-1970 period. It controls flooding, provides water for irrigation and generates hydro-electricity for industries.
Dam Dimensions
The dam is 111 metres high, 3830 metres long and 980 metres wide at its base.
2100 MW of Electricity
The large lake created by the dam is known as Lake Nasser on one side(south) and the water of the lake flows through the dam power stations into River Nile on the other side(north) generating 2100 MW of electricity.
Visitors at the Aswan High Dam
Visitors at the Aswan High Dam, Egypt
Lake Nasser, a large artificial lake, was created by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. It covers a surface area of 5250 sq. km.
Lake Nasser, an artificial lake created by the construction of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt
Water from Lake Nasser flows through the dam and power stations into River Nile in the north
River Nile in the north of the Aswan High Dam
Diagram showing water flowing from Lake Nasser through the dam to the power stations and then to River Nile
Diagram showing water flowing from Lake Nasser to the power-stations and then to River Nile
Diagram showing the power stations that can generate hydro-electricity of 2100 MW capacity
Diagram showing water flowing from Lake Nasser to the power stations generating hydro-electricity of capacity of 2100 MW
Writer and wife at the Aswan High Dam, Egypt
Writer and wife at the Aswan High Dam in Egypt
Visiting Philae Temple or Temple of Isis on Agilkia Island
Then we left the Aswan High Dam and moved on to another place to see an ancient temple. We had to take a motor-boat to a tiny island, Agilkia Island, in the Lake of Nasser. That temple is called Philae Temple or Temple of Isis. It was relocated to that island before its original site nearby was submerged by Lake Nasser in the 1970s.
Ptolemy II(Reign:285-246 B.C.)
The temple was constructed by Ptolemy II when he ruled Ptolemaic Egypt from 285 until 246 B.C. It was dedicated to Goddess Isis who was the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. More parts were added to the main temple later by other Ptolemaic kings. Traces of the work done by some Roman emperors were discovered at the temple.
The Philae Temple or Temple of Isis was abandoned in the 6th. Century due to the arrival of Christianity and Islam.
Tour Group taking a motorboat from the Marina Philae Temple Jetty to Agilkia Island
Tour group taking a motor-boat to Agilkia Island from the Marina Philae Temple jetty in Aswan
Philae Temple or Temple of Isis is now on Agilkia Island in Aswan
Philae Temple or Temple of Isis on Agilkia Island in Aswan
Pylon or Facade of Philae Temple or Temple of Isis
Pylon or facade of Philae Temple or Temple of Isis on Agilkia Island, Aswan
Left Colonnades of Philae Temple or Temple of Isis
A row of colonnades on the left of the Temple of Philae or Isis
Right Colonnades of Philae Temple or Temple of Isis
A row of colonnades on the right of the Temple of Philae or Isis
Entrance of Sanctuary of Goddess Isis
Entrance of the Sanctuary of Goddess Isis
Sanctuary of Goddess Isis
The sanctuary of Goddess Isis
Egyptian Tour Guide talking about the Philae Temple or Temple of Isis to the Tour Group
Egyptian tour guide, Khaled, telling the tour group about the Temple of Isis
A relief on a temple wall showing the figures of Goddess Isis
A relief on a wall of the Temple of Isis showing figures of Goddess Isis
A defaced relief showing Goddess Isis watching a priest treating a sick person
A relief at the Temple of Isis showing Goddess Isis watching a priest treating a sick person
A relief showing a priest offering food to Goddess Isis
A relief at the Temple of Isis showing a priest offering food to Goddess Isis
A relief showing a priest worshipping Goddess Isis
A relief showing a priest worshipping Goddess Isis
Trajan’s Kiosk near the Temple of Isis was built by a Roman emperor, Trajan, who ruled his empire from 98 until 117 A.D..
Trajan’s Kiosk was built near the Temple of Isis by a Roman emperor, Trajan who ruled his empire from 98 until 117 A.D.
An altar for making offerings to Goddess Isis
An altar, a flat-topped block, for making offerings to Goddess Isis
Writer and wife at the Philae Temple or Temple of Isis on 18 Dec 2017
Writer and wife visiting the Temple of Isis or Philae Temple, Aswan, on 18 Dec 2017
Tour Group leaving Agilkia Island where the Philae Temple or Temple of Isis is located
Tour group leaving Agilkia Island by boat
Tour group going for a Nubian lunch at el Dokka Restaurant, Aswan
We returned to the Marina Temple Philae from Agilkia Island and took another boat to a tiny island to have a Nubian lunch at a restaurant known as el Dokka Restaurant in Aswan.
Tour group taking another boat from Marina Temple Philae to a small island for a Nubian lunch at el Dokka Restaurant in Aswan
Tour group boarding a boat to a small island for a Nubian lunch at el Dokka Restaurant
Tour Group arriving at a tiny island for a Nubian lunch at el Dokka Restaurant
Tour group arriving on an island for a Nubian lunch at el Dokka Restaurant
el Dokka Restaurant atop a rock
Tour group going for a Nubian lunch at el Dokka Restaurant on a small island, Aswan
Dining Hall of el Dokka Restaurant, Aswan
Tour group having Nubian lunch at el Dokka Restaurant, Aswan
A plate of Nubian fried chicken and rice
A plate of fried chicken and rice
Nubian fried mushrooms and salad
Fried mushroom and salad with mayonnaise
A Nubian claypot dish
A Nubian claypot dish
Nubian coffee for guests at el Dokka Restaurant, Aswan
A cup of coffee for guests at el Dokka Restaurant, Aswan
A five-star hotel, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel, on the Bank of River Nile
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel. a 5-star hotel on the bank of River Nile in Aswan
Flying back to Cairo from Aswan
In the evening we took an airplane at Aswan International Airport and flew back to Cairo, a distance of 682 km, for an hour and 10 minutes.
On arrival at Cairo we checked in at Le Meridien Hotel. Early in the following morning, we left the hotel by coach for Sinai Peninsula in the east.
(Continue in Egypt Travel Part VIII)
Egypt Travel Parts I to XII
Egypt Travel Part I :Salah el Din Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque, Tahrir Square and Egyptian Museum
Egypt Travel Part II :Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon
Egypt Travel Part III :Hot Air Balloons and Karnak Temple Complex
Egypt Travel Part IV :Papyrus Paper-Making, Luxor Temple and Esna Lock
Egypt Travel Part V :Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple and Galabia Party
Egypt Travel Part VI :Abu Simbel Temples and Nubian Village(Elephantine Island)
Egypt Travel Part VII :Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple
Egypt Travel Part VIII:Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, Moon Beach(Ras Sudr), and St. Catherine
Egypt Travel Part IX :Mount Sinai, Catherine’s Monastery and Sharm el Sheikh
Egypt Travel Part X :Sharm el Sheikh
Egypt Travel Part XI :Cairo Food, Saqqara Step Pyramid Complex and Memphis
Egypt Travel Part XII :Great Giza Pyramid Complex and Khan el Khalil Bazaar