Elephantine Island

Elephantine Island

Elephantine Island on the other side of the Nile from Aswan, you can find the Old Cataract Hotel. Even though this island is small, it has had an effect on Aswan’s history.

Attractions:

This is without a doubt the most beautiful thing to see in Aswan. Elephantine is a tropical paradise with lush gardens and a lot of culturally important things to find.

In your free time, you can go fishing, watch birds, or have a picnic on the Nile, the Cataract Islands, or the River Nile. Take a walk through the brightly painted homes in the Nubian settlements of Siou and Koti.s. This is another great thing to do.

History:

Before Aswan was built there, Elephantine Island was home to Sweet, a trading town from the time of the Pharaohs. Sweet used both the island and the raging waters of the First Cataract as a kind of defense against people who might try to get in. Taking advantage of its prime location just below the cataract, it became a major commercial hub where caravans from the south would drop off their goods before continuing upriver.

The ancient Egyptians used granite from Elephantine Island to build many of their temples. It was also a major place for the trade of ivory. The only thing left of this Pharaonic settlement, which is scattered around the island, is Khnum Temple, which dates back to the late Pharaonic period.

On the island, you can also find the Aswan Museum and an old nilometer. The nilometer was cut into the rock in the shape of old sea steps. On these stairs, numbers were written in Arabic, Latin, and Pharaonic. In the middle of the island, there are two hidden Nubian communities. Tourists like to visit these villages because of the beautiful scenery along the river.