Aswan and Nubia
Aswan and Nubia
Some 900 km, to the south of Cairo, is Aswan, a serene Nile Valley destination, where the Nile is
at its most beautiful and majestic than anywhere else, flowing through amber, granite rocks, and
around emerald islands of palm groves, and exotic plants, giving the true meaning of the word,
Tropical Paradise. Without doubt, Aswan is the all-time favorite winter destination, for both
foreigners and locals. As Egypt's southernmost city, Aswan has long been Egypt's gateway to
Africa, serving as the starting and ending points of the ancient caravan routes. Once was a garrison
town centered around the island of Abu (Modern day Elephantine Island), called Swenet (meaning
trade/or market place), became suan in Coptic, and from which comes its modern name.
Thousands of years ago, it was believed that Aswan, was the domain of the ram-headed god
Khnoum (who fashioned man and his ka, upon the potter's wheel), Khnoum according to legends
was not alone, but with him, happily living in the Island of Abu (later to be called Elephantine by
the Greeks) his wife and their daughter (Satis & Anukis) both of Nubian origin. Aswan was also
the region of the Nile Cataracts (in total there are six cataracts, almost all in The Sudan except for
two), where the inundation was believed to originate (in a grotto where the Nile god lives). As the
first and foremost nome (province) of Upper Egypt, all the land south of Aswan was Nubia,
Respectively (WAWAT / STY and Kush). Since Nubia was not totally Egyptianized till the 15 th
century BC, it was duly a task for the ancient Egyptians to fortify ancient Aswan (then
Elephantine island) against any Nubian invasion, but on the other hand, The Medjaw (Nubians)
served the Egyptian police/ and army from the Old Kingdom. Today Aswan, Egypt's Winter-
Resort, has a lot to offer, attractions here are varied from different periods, pharaonic, Greco-
Roman, Christian-Coptic, Islamic and Modern ones. Maybe the number and size of monuments
and temples are not impressive compared with Luxor, but here in Aswan it has a different feeling,
especially when you end your tour, sailing before sunset in a felucca gliding around the islands in
an experience, exclusively in Aswan. But talking about Aswan is incomplete, unless, we talk
about Nubia, which is since antiquities was integral part of Egypt via Aswan.
Nubia is that vast region, mostly desert but rich of its natural, mineral resources, extending to the
south of Aswan. Very early in the history of the country, it was considered to be outside the
official territory of Egypt, but Egyptian interests in a land to supply Egypt with valuable materials,
including gold, ebony, ivory, panther skins, ostrich feathers, and above all man-power
(mercenaries and policemen), led the Egyptian kings to carry out constant military expeditions, to
subdue Nubian tribes. Throughout countless expeditions, and sometimes caravan missions,
conducted by Aswan governors (during the Old Kingdom), and later assaults by powerful kings in
the Middle and New kingdoms, Egyptian influence, control was extended over the land and its
inhabitants.
King Ahmose I (Founder of the 18 th Dynasty and the New Kingdom), following the footprints of
his predecessors of the Middle Kingdom. Re-conquered Nubia, rebuilt some of the forts and
imposed Egyptian culture on the local population, moreover Egyptian governors, whose title was
"kings' son of Kush (Nubia)" were appointed. His successors, particularly of the 18 th and 19 th
Dynasties, built prestigious Egyptian temples on Nubian territory, above them all, are the iconic
rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel.