The Monuments of Lake Nasser
The Monuments of Lake Nasser
Travelling to Egypt people usually
visit the pyramids and the temples between Luxor and Aswan. South
of Aswan there lies the Lake Nasser, which comes into being
between 1960 and 1970, after the erection of the new dam of
Aswan. This area is called "Nubia" (actually it should
be called Lower Nubia). Most of the Nubian people have lost their
homes and have to settle somewhere north. On the map you can see
places with monuments, which now lies under water. In fact, these
places were their positions before the water was flooding them -
but the water closes not over their temples. So not only the
famous temple of Abu Simbel was saved in a spectacular action of
the UNESCO, but also other monuments which are shown on the maps
below. They were re-erected on the bank of the new lake and on an
island. Now you can find these monuments gathered in few places,
for example the temples of Amada and Derr and the tomb of Penut
are now lying in "New Amada". People visiting New Amada
can visit these three monuments. It is possible to cruise on the
Lake Nasser, but in smaller ships than on the Nile between Luxor
and Aswan. You will start in Abu Simbel, then cruise past Kasr
Ibrim, then you will visit New Amada, then the Wadi el Sebua and
in the end New Kalabsha - or the other way round, it depends
where you start: either in Abu Simbel or in New Kalabsha. The
anchors on the maps are the places were the cruise ship will
stop. This is a very special tour, it is so nice to cruise on
that calm lake, a total other atmosphere than on the Nile with
lots of ships. And you will see a very nice night sky with lots
of stars.
These temples were connected very deeply with the history of the
Medjai, that are the Blemmyes. This was their area, which they
have controlled for 300 years (3. - 5. century BC). It is the
so-called "Dodekaschoinos". The right map shows quite
exactly their area, because the southernmost city of the Blemmyes
was Kasr Ibrim, their capital city was Kalabsha, and the northern
frontier was Aswan and the temple island of Philae. The Blemmyes
must have been erected many monuments, and they have used old
temples and restaured them. They have left insriptions on the
temple walls, also in Philae and Kalabsha. Unfortunately a lot
has disappeared with the flooding of the dam lake, not all could
have been saved. To the right of the two maps you can click on
the names of the places to get more information and pictures,
also in the context of the Blemmyes.
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Abu Simbel
Temple
of Amada and Derr, Wadi el Sebua/Dakka/ Philae |
Other Nubian Temples which were transported to foreign countries and reconstructed
Founds in the Nubia Museum in Aswan