March 15, 2020 More Temples and Other Fun

Each day seems to surpass the previous one in its richness. Again today, no more talk, let pictures tell the story which I hope you will enjoy.

We have sailed through the night to the city of Aswan, a more metropolitan area. Here is located one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world. Built in the 50’s, it is now winding down as nuclear, solar and wind power take precedence. When Egypt approached the US for funding for this dam it was refused. Eventually the soviets funded it.

Monument to honor the Egypt-Soviet alliance in completing the dam.

View looking up from the base of the 5 pillars of carved limestone that form the monument.

We visited the Temple of Philae built to honor the goddess Isis. As with other temples, its erection was an enormous undertaking. Read on…

View of another portion of the temple…

And another…

So, here is what impresses us the most: some years ago the rising waters of the Nile caused this temple to became partly submerged. With the assistance of the Italian government and UNESCO, modern day architects, engineers, and archaeologists carefully deconstructed the temple and reconstructed it in its present location.

Present day temple worker. Most of the Egyptian men I observed wear this traditional dress. And yes, I tipped him a couple of US dollars after I took the photo, which is the polite thing to do.

If you look carefully at the faces carved in the top of these temple pillars, you may notice how their expression changes from a frown to a smile. This is intended to depict the ever increasing happiness of the gods as monetary offerings increase!

Our guide points to a barely perceivable square centimeter of pure gold that remains intact on this ankle bracelet of the god depicted here. It is believed that the original design was completely covered with pure gold. It must have been a spectacular sight.

Pockmarked image resulting from attempt to erase the image of the god depicted here, believed to have been done by Coptic Christians who invaded Egypt. Note coptic cross at right.

This rather weakly inscribed entry is believed to be written by the last priest to inhabit this temple. The handwriting on the wall, literally, speaks of the end of the Egyptian civilization. It is believed to be the last written piece of Egyptian hieroglyph.

Granite stone quarry at Aswan where all of the stone used to build the temples as well as the pyramids was quarried. In the foreground a very large piece of granite was in the process of being chiseled out. It was to be an obelisk. Unfortunately it cracked in situ. It is known as the unfinished obelisk. Hundreds of men probably worked for months to accomplish this work which had to be abandoned some 3,000+ years ago.

Later we set sail in a small boat to a botannical garden located offshore. “Crocodile children” row up in small boats, attach themselves to our boat and sing us songs hoping for a tip. We sing them an American song in return. These children are of Nubian descent, an indigenous group numbering about 5 million people in southern Egypt.

Botannical garden at Kitchener’s Island. This was advertised as ” teeming with birdlife” but I found it to be teeming with domestic cats.

As we depart for the mainland we are treated to a view of the hotel said to be the place where Death on the Nile was written by Agatha Christie.

Upon returning to my room onboard, I am greeted daily by a comical arrangement of my bath towels: today a monkey holding my pillow; yesterday an alligator with the TV remote clenched in its mouth. Day before that a swan. Clever cabin crew.