13 Interesting Facts About Aswan - The Ancient City on Nile

₹ 68,661 onwards View Packages
Aswan is the land embracing the fabled tales of Deities & Kings. This fascinating Egyptian city is the icon of the Middle East. Aswan has been a strategic and commercial gateway of southern Egypt since primeval times. It was formerly treated as a strategic military base by all. One of the most charming & notable cities all over the globe, Aswan reflects a lot about prehistoric times and encompasses many monuments & archaeological sites. Ancient pharaonic civilizations and pharaonic, Islamic, and Nubian tourist destinations exist. Notably, the Nubian Villages are a wonderful attraction of Aswan city and a must-visit if you plan a trip to this city.

Here are some enchanting facts about Aswan that will let you know this city better.

1. Aswan is the Gateway to Africa

Being the southernmost city, Aswan served as a link to the remaining parts of Africa for the ancient Egyptians. It was the city connecting the South and the Northern regions in the trade between Egypt and African civilizations. Hence, it is also referred to as Gateway to Africa.

2. Aswan is home to some rare and mystical islands

Aswan encompasses some rare & mystical areas floating on the Nile, namely the Crocodile and Elephantine islands. Notably, the Elephantine island is believed to be the residence of God Khnum, one of the chief deities worshipped in ancient Egypt. Today, this island is brimming with archaeological sites and surviving ancient ruins.

Elephantine Island
Source

3. Aswan is one of the driest cities in the world

Aswan is among the driest cities across the globe, which hardly observes rain. Being a desert city, it observes a hot & dry climate throughout the year, and the summers here are very long. Aswan experiences below 10 mm (0.04 in) of average yearly precipitation, which is considerably low.

4. Aswan is called Land of Gold

The Aswan city is also called the Land of Gold because it was considered a vast urnfield for the Nubian pharaohs and their treasures for centuries.

5. Egyptian pyramids have pink and black granite from Aswan

Most of the Egyptian monuments & shrines are built from granite stones procured from Aswan, as it was a principal source of granite. Notably, such monuments also include the Pyramids of Giza.

6. Aswan is more than 4500 years old

The creation of Aswan dates back more than 4500 years ago. It was initially named Swenett. Laterwards, it was called Swan or Sonu, which means a market. The fact behind it was that Aswan was nestled on the main trade road between the southern land and Egypt, and it was the primary supplier of Gold, ivory, and more.

Abu Simbel Temple
Source

7. Original inhabitants of Aswan were the Nubians

The original inhabitants of Aswan were the Nubians. Today, Nubians represent 30% of the total residents of Aswan, and these people speak their Nubian language. On the west bank, Aswan is encircled by various small islands and Nubian villages. Those Nubian villages, inhabited by Nubians, are a delightful sight painted with vivid colors. Nubian inhabitants have their own traditions that are distinct from remaining Egypt. Besides, the rest of the residents are Arabs who migrated to this city after the Islamic invasion and spoke Arabic.

8. Aswan has more than fifty traditional folk dances

Aswan is recognized for its over fifty traditional folk dances, which are also a part of the local culture of this city today. Aswan has an impressive heritage in crafts, creative exchange, folk arts, arts education, & civil engagement. The traditional crafts of Aswan comprise tablecloth making, beadwork, palm branches & leaf creations, clay art, and needlework items.

9. Aswan dam is one of the most expensive constructions in the world

The Aswan Dam is constructed on the longest river on this planet - the Nile. This dam has a length of 11,811 ft, a height of 364 ft, and a base of 3,215 ft. Though British architects planned its construction, it was engineered by the Soviet Union. It took ten years to build, and the construction finished in 1970. Remarkably, over half of the electricity supplied to Egypt comes from the Aswan dam. This dam produces approximately 10 billion kW of electricity each hour. When the construction of the Aswan dam was started, over 90,000 Nubians were moved out of the area and transferred to up to 45 km (28 mi) far from where they used to reside previously.

Aswan Dam
Source

10. Philae Temple & Abu Simbel Temple in Aswan were relocated from the banks of River Nile

Two temples in Aswan city, namely Philae Temple & Abu Simbel Temple, are popular for one more astonishing fact besides their grandeur. These temples were at risk of destruction by modern progress as the site would be flooded by the Nile soon. So, these ancient heritage sites were dismantled & relocated. It involved cutting the structures into pieces of 3 to 20 tons and reassembling them accurately. This relocation took five years, but everything looked just as before. Today, visitors wonder how the relocation of such large structures could be so precise!

11. Aswan is home to an unfinished obelisk

There is another famous attraction in Aswan called the Unfinished Obelisk. It enchants plenty of tourists to offer insight into the architecture method utilized in ancient Egypt. Queen Hatshepsut built this Obelisk as a complement to the Lateran Obelisk. It is named so because it never got finished. Three of its sides were completed, and the underside is still stuck to the bedrock. Notably, it is the largest recognized ancient Obelisk. 

Unfinished obelisk
Source

12. Aswan was originally spelled Assuan or Assouan

Earlier the name of Aswan was spelled as Assuan or Assouan. This name was derived from the Egyptian and Arabic languages. Later, its name was romanized & spelled as Aswan.

13. Aswan is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network

The Nubian Monuments in Aswan, from Abu Simbel to Philae Temple, were declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979 to retain the cultural heritage. Also, Aswan is on the UNESCO creative cities network under the folk art and craft division.

Aswan has held an important position since ancient times, as this city reflects the imposing heritage and authentic Egyptian culture. Due to the construction of the Aswan Dam, the city also has significance today. Apart from the remarkable archaeological sites, vivid history, and ethereal temples, Aswan city embraces exquisite views of the Nile, open-air markets, and felucca cruises. With a peaceful aura and year-round warm weather, it is an outstanding destination for winter vacation. Now, as you have gained significant insights into this mythical city, you are ready to embark on a memorable trip to Aswan!

This post was published by Kanika Sharma

Share this post on social media

Aswan Travel Packages

Compare quotes from upto 3 travel agents for free

Comments on this post

View Packages