Elephantine is the largest island in the Nile at Aswan and one of the oldest inhabited places in Egypt. For thousands of years it guarded Egypt’s southern border and was the starting point for trade with Africa in ivory, which may be how it got its name. Today it is home to Nubian villages and a large archaeological site.
What to see
At the southern end lie the ruins of the ancient town and its temples, including the reconstructed temple of the goddess Satet and the remains of the temple of Khnum, the ram-headed god of the Nile’s source. Near the river is the Nilometer, a staircase of stone steps cut down to the water, used to measure the flood and set taxes. In the 5th century BC a garrison of Jewish soldiers lived here, and their letters on papyrus, the Elephantine papyri, are a rare source on daily life at the time.
The Nubian villages
In the middle of the island are the villages of Siou and Koti, with painted houses, narrow lanes and gardens. Walking through them with a local guide is a gentle way to see Nubian life, and you may be invited in for tea.
Visiting
A public ferry and private boats cross from the Corniche. Allow one to two hours. Elephantine is easy to combine with a felucca ride and the Botanical Garden on our Aswan day tours.
