Eugenie Cruise - 4 Days
Aswan, Upper Egypt, Egypt
The majestic lake produced by the construction of the High Dam at Aswan brought with it not only the redrawing of the map of Egypt, but also the prospect of losing numerous treasures of Egyptian history in the regions towards what is now her Sudanese border. Before they were consigned to the bottom of a lake which reaches as deep as eighty metres in places, many of the finest examples of architecture and art were wholly dismantled and rebuilt on higher ground. It is a selection of the finest monuments and restorative efforts in the Nubian area now submerged by Lake Nasser which you will be able to see on this cruise.
Your first visit from the cruise begins with the site of Kalabsha, fronted by the Temple of Mandulis. You reach it by a short boat ride to the island along the gentle waters of Lake Nasser.
On this reconstructed site you can see Bayt el-Wali, 'The House of the Governor' a Temple in which Ramses II depicts his successes over the Nubians and Hittites. His celebration of his success is preserved in the rocks in colours which have stood the test of over 3,000 years, even if the reality of Ramses II's triumph itself is contended by historians.
Along the walkways, you can see examples of animals drawn on stone that date to around 6,000BC, again in the areas south of Aswan. Finally, you come to the Kiosk of Qertassi, a beautiful temple with two columns in honour of the Goddess Hathor, and from here you are afforded a magnificent panorama of the Lake along which you will soon set sail.
Today the boat sets sail to Wadi El Seboua. You enjoy a cocktail along the way at the Tropic of Cancer. After lunch on board you visit the Temples of Wadi El Seboua, Dakka and Meharakka.
The Arabic name, which translates into English as 'The Valley of the Lions', refers to another of the temples of Ramses II in Nubia. After half a day's sailing, you are confronted on arrival to the temple by twin lines of sphinxes with the head of the famous Pharaoh, the best preserved examples of which are truly imposing. The temple announces his triumphs over his enemies, and serves as an offering to the Gods amongst whom he himself occupies a central place. Inside, you will find the curious artistic remains of the temple serving at one point as a Christian Church.
A walk along the road, or perhaps even a camel ride, brings you to the Temple of Dakka, the monument that stands on high, 40km north of its original home. Although damaged in places, there is an impressive 12m Pylon that is marked by a winged sun disc, which looks out imperiously on to the Nubian lands and waters. A short way downhill back towards shore lies the Temple of Maharakka, taken from a site 50km from its present location. The most interesting feature of this temple is the spiral staircase up to the roof, the only spiral staircase known in an ancient Egyptian building.
On your return to the boat you sail to Amada and have time to relax before dinner on board this evening.
Breakfast is followed by a morning visit to the temples of Amada and Derr as well as the tomb of Penout. You then sail to Kasr Ibrim and visit the citadel.The tour is conducted from the ship's sundeck as entrance to the site is not permitted.This site is unique for being the only of the Nubian sites to remain in situ, albeit nowadays on a small island, rather than on the summit of a hill, since the lake rose 70m. Kasr Ibrim was occupied throughout successive periods from the late New Kingdom until the early 19th Century, when it was inhabited by Bosnian mercenaries of the Ottoman Empire, who married into the local Nubian community. Its ruined sandstone cathedral dates back to the eighth century and over lies a temple of Isis. Due to its fragility and ongoing excavations, entrance to the sight is not permitted so explanation is done from the sundeck of the ship.
Lunch is served on board and you sail to Abu Simbel and the magnificent temples built by Ramses II. Watch the approach to the site from the sundeck and see the temples grow steadily larger and more impressive on the horizon.
Following lunch you visit The great Sun Temple of Abu Simbel. The temple epitomises the monumentalism of the New Kingdom during its imperial heyday, when Ramses II (1304-1237) waged colonial wars from the Beka'a Valley in Lebanon to the Fourth Cataract. To impress his power and majesty on the Nubians, Ramses had four gigantic statues of himself hewn from the mountainside and his unblinking stare confronted travellers as they entered Egypt from Africa.
It was the prospect of losing Abu Simbel to Lake Nasser that impelled UNESCO to organise the salvage of Nubian monuments in the 1960s. Abu Simbel was thus reassembled 210m behind (and 61m above) its original site, a false mountain being constructed to match the original setting.
This evening you will attend the Sound and Light show at Abu Simbel, followed by a candlelight dinner on board and overnight.
This morning you have an early breakfast before your departure to Abu Simbel Airport.
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