Nubian Village, Philae Temple & the Papyrus Institute
Traditions of Nubia and Temple Saved from Submersion
Visit a local village with your guide and meet a traditional Nubian family.
Learn about their lifestyle and gain insight into the traditions the Nubians have followed for thousands of years. Visit a school in the village and spend time playing with the children. Next, you will board your motorboat and visit the Temples of Philae—built to honor Isis, construction began in around 690 BC. The structure was moved from its original location on Philae Island, to its new location on Agilkia Island, after the flooding of Lake Nasser. As the waters of Lake Nasser rose, the temple complex was relocated here. The UNESCO Nubia Campaign Project took nine years to complete, protecting this and other complexes before the completion of the Aswan High Dam. Later, stop at the Papyrus Institute to learn how the delicate paper from its namesake plant is created.
Traditions of Nubia and Temple Saved from Submersion
Visit a local village with your guide and meet a traditional Nubian family.
Learn about their lifestyle and gain insight into the traditions the Nubians have followed for thousands of years. Visit a school in the village and spend time playing with the children. Next, you will board your motorboat and visit the Temples of Philae—built to honor Isis, construction began in around 690 BC. The structure was moved from its original location on Philae Island, to its new location on Agilkia Island, after the flooding of Lake Nasser. As the waters of Lake Nasser rose, the temple complex was relocated here. The UNESCO Nubia Campaign Project took nine years to complete, protecting this and other complexes before the completion of the Aswan High Dam. Later, stop at the Papyrus Institute to learn how the delicate paper from its namesake plant is created.
Kom Ombo Temple
One Temple, Two Gods
See the fascinating dual temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to two gods, Sobek and Horus.
This remarkable temple, very near our berth, is unique for many reasons. Two temples in one, Kom Ombo is perfectly symmetrical. One half is dedicated to Horus, the falcon god of the sky, and the other to Sobek, the crocodile god, a protective deity thought to have created the world. It is believed that the temple’s builder went to great lengths to ensure that both halves were precisely alike, so as not to offend either god. You will walk a short distance with your guide to the temple and learn about its Greco-Roman style, first built by the pharaohs of Egypt and completed by an emperor of Rome. Upon arrival, you will admire its duplicate gateways, chapels, courtyards and columns. During your visit, you can view some mummified crocodiles discovered in the area.
A very busy day.
The Viking excursions included:One Temple, Two Gods
See the fascinating dual temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to two gods, Sobek and Horus.
This remarkable temple, very near our berth, is unique for many reasons. Two temples in one, Kom Ombo is perfectly symmetrical. One half is dedicated to Horus, the falcon god of the sky, and the other to Sobek, the crocodile god, a protective deity thought to have created the world. It is believed that the temple’s builder went to great lengths to ensure that both halves were precisely alike, so as not to offend either god. You will walk a short distance with your guide to the temple and learn about its Greco-Roman style, first built by the pharaohs of Egypt and completed by an emperor of Rome. Upon arrival, you will admire its duplicate gateways, chapels, courtyards and columns. During your visit, you can view some mummified crocodiles discovered in the area.
- cruising up Nile River in a small boat;
- exploring a Nubian Village;
- visiting a Nubian School;
- a trip out to Agilkia Island and the Temple of Philae dedicated to the goddess Isis;
- a stop at the Papyrus Institute; and,
- then cruising down river for an evening stop at Kom Ombo, also know as the “House of the Crocodile” and the “Castle of the Falcon.”
In the late afternoon, we went to talk highlighting the logistics when the cruise ends on Thursday. There has been a lot of jumping around and plane flights on this trip. More on this subject in a post trip entry.
There was a little bit of a drama at dinner. The quality of the food has been not met the expectations of several of the people in our group...
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