Aswan

Aswan, called Swenet by the ancient Egyptians, is located at the southern end of Egypt at the first set of rapids on the Nile River. It is from here that the Egyptians quarried much of their granite that was used for their temples. It is also the gateway that led to the southern bound caravan routes to Sudan and Nubia. In the time of Ptolemies, the town was known as Syene, and the granite known as syenite. South of the city is Aswan High Dam, built by Egypt and the Soviet Union, and forming Lake Nasser.

Aswan, meaning “market”, is Egypt’s southernmost winter resort and attracts many tourists. According to tradition, the first Egyptian pharaohs came from here, including the builders of the Pyramids of Giza.

The Aswan High Dam was built by 30,000 Egyptian workers, Russian finances, and 2,000 technicians from 1960-1971. It is one of the largest and highest dams in the world, needing 55 million cubic yards of rock for its construction. It backs up the waters of Lake Nasser. The Old Aswan Dam was originally built in 1902 and was heightened twice. It is located 4.5 miles north of the new dam and it marked the beginning of modern irrigation in Egypt.

The El Gezira, or Elephantine Island, is a mile-and-a-half island. Located on the south end of the island is a museum which houses artifacts found in the area. The south end of the island also has traces of the former town of Elephantine, the “door of the South.” The Jews built a temple to their god Yahwah on Elephantine Island

End Notes:
Lamar C. Berrett, Discovering the World of the Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Tennessee, 1979, p.103-105.