Private Tour: Kalabsha Temple and Nubian Museum

 

On the banks of Lake Nasser lies Kalabsha Temple, an often overlooked jewel of Aswan. Your Egyptologist guide is waiting to take you on a private tour to the temple to help you unlock its secrets.

For two years from 1961, Kalabsha Temple was dismantled into 15,000 pieces and moved block by block to its current location on the banks of Lake Nasser. It was just one of 18 temples and monuments moved in order to preserve them from the rising Nile waters created by the construction of Aswan's High Dam. The temple which is dedicated to the Egyptian god Horus and the Nubian god Mandulis, was originally built just after the Ptolemy period, the era after Alexander the Great's death (323BC).

 

The facade of the temple is undecorated suggesting it was never finish by its original builder, the Roman emperor Octavius Augustus. Despite being unfinished, Kalabsha Temple is considered the most complete, and largest free-standing temple in Nubia. The inner walls feature Egyptian artwork including a carving of St George slaying a dragon and Coptic crosses, showing the influence of Christians who used the temple as a church during the Roman persecution. Another piece of artwork which is a feature of the temple is a carving declaring the prohibition of eating pork which is carved in Meroitic. This language remains a mystery to Egyptologists today, with its origin still unknown.

 

than to the Nubian Museum

 

This museum displays thousands of antiquities that would have been lostunder the waters of Lake Nasser.

This museum takes its name from the ancient Egyptian Nbu, meaning gold, in reference to the area's famous gold mines Moreover; you will enjoy scenes of Nubian life demonstrated with a range of life-size displays.

 

Your private tour from Aswan includes a qualified Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transportation from your Aswan hotel.

 

                                                                                                                Schedule Details

 

Departure Point:

Aswan hotels or Port area

 

Departure Time: 

9:00am (later departures are available until 1:00pm if required, please advise at time of booking)

Hotel pickups commence prior to this time, you must contact the local service provider to verify your exact pick up time.

 

Duration: 

9 hours (approx.)

 

 

                                                                                                         Additional Information

 

Inclusions: 

o  Qualified Egyptologist guide

o  Entrance fees

o  Transport by air-conditioned minivan

o  Hotel/port pickup and drop off

 

Exclusions:

·  Gratuities (optional)

·  Food and drinks, unless specified

· Tipping.