Elephantine Island
Elephantine Island gets its name from its shape, which resembles standing elephants in the water, or, as others would say, an elephant tusk; Elephantine Island offers a variety of attractions for anyone visiting the beautiful city of Aswan.
Where is Elephantine Island Located? Measuring a total of 1200 meters from north to south and 400 meters at its widest point. Elephantine Island and other neighboring Islands can be spotted from the west bank hillside along the
and are located just downstream from the first cataract in the Nile, on the border between Upper Egypt and Lower Nubia. It is possible to reach Elephantine Island by ferry or on a felucca that can be rented from the banks of the river in Aswan.
Elephantine Island at Ancient Times In ancient times, before the city of Aswan was there, Elephantine Island was the site of a Pharaonic-era trading town called Swenet, which used the island and the turbulent waters of the First Cataract as protection from attack. Its strategic location just below the cataract made it an important trade hub,
where caravans from the south unloaded. their goods to be transported north on the river. Elephantine Island was also once an important trading center for the ivory trade, providing granite for the construction of many buildings in ancient Egypt.
Left behind from this Pharaonic settlement is the late-Pharaonic era. Temple of Khnum and other, partially excavated, ruins are scattered over the rest of the island. The island also hosts the Aswan Museum and an ancient nilometer in the form of ancient stairs leading into the water cut into the rock.
displayed markings in Arabic, Roman, and Pharaonic numerals. In the middle of the island, palm groves hide two Nubian villages that regularly host tourists and beautiful scenery along the river. There is also a luxurious hotel, the Movenpick Aswan, located at its northern end.
Elephantine Island
The Temple of Thutmose III and Amenhotep III once stood on the sites of Elephantine Island, but these were destroyed once Muhammad Ali took control over Egypt and enforced the Muslim religion over its lands. The first temple built on the island was the Temple of State around 3000 BC;
the temple went under renovations and modifications over the next 3000 years. Records show the existence of an Egyptian temple of Khunum in the Third Dynasty, which temples were completely rebuilt during the Thirtieth Dynasty of Egypt just before the Greco-Roman period.
The Nilometer
Another famous attraction for tourists visiting is the Nilometer. It was originally built to measure the Nile’s water levels and clarity during the annual flood season. Two nilo meters are located on its most popular corridor nilometer, which is associated with the Temple of Satis being one of the oldest nilometers in Egypt.
The Aswan Museum
Located on the southeastern side of Aswan, the Aswan Museum is a popular site among tourists visiting this region. Opened to the public in 1912, the Aswan Museum contains many artifacts that tell the story. of the region of Nubia. Another section of the museum was opened in 1990 and
displays objects discovered on the grounds of Elephantine Island itself, such as pottery, mummies, weapons, and utensils. Many of these objects and artifacts have been discovered by the German Archaeological Institute, including a mummified ram of Khnum, and a rare calendar, famously known as the Elephantine Calendar of Things, from the reign of Thutmose III.
Jewish presence
A Jewish community documented to have once lived within the Elephantine Island around the 5th century BC; they built and maintained their own temple where sacrifices were offered to many gods as they followed polytheistic beliefs.
