Sekhemkhet (Djoser Teti) (2611—2603)

Cartouche of Sekhemkhet

King Sekhmekhet was the third king of the third Dynasty. His name is engraved on a cliff near Wadi Maghara. The king has an bare pyramid at Saqqara with an alabaster coffin within.   Matching to the Turin King-list, Netjerikhet's close successor, Sekhemkhet, named by his own name Djoser-Ti, ruled for only 6 years. His funerary memorial, the Buried Pyramid built to the south-west of Djoser’s, was never broken, which may corroborate the short reign due to Sekhemkhet by the Turin King-list. If it would have been finished, yet, it would have been an even more magnificent building than Djoser’s.  When this memorial was discovered, its sarcophagus was found secret and empty. It does not seem to have been used. The human remains got in the South Tomb of Sekhemkhet's pyramid complex belong to a 2 year old child and are thus unlikely to have belonged to Sekhemkhet himself.

A ease in the Wadi Maghara in the Sinai indicating Sekhemkhet as an grown slaying a foe is sometimes seen as resistant that Sekhemkhet was an adult during his reign. Such stereotyped representation, however, should be seen for what they are: conform to the standard way of representing a king, regardless of his actual physical state, age or even sex. Sekhmekhet was the third king of the 3rd Dynasty. His name is carved on a cliff near Wadi Maghara. The king has an unfinished pyramid at Saqqara with an alabaster coffin inside. This king was completely unknown until 1951 when his repository was located at Saqqara.

Aside look at photographs taken from the air archaeologists knew that a long right area was situated just  200 meters south west of Djoser's complex. This cut to be the remains of the now called "Buried Pyramid" placed within an area intended to be enclosed by a wall. The whole building had been abandoned afterward a few years of work. The first one and a half steps were set in place and it had a height of eight meters. Probably it had been twice as high before the work had been stopped apparently because the king died, and the site had later been a stone quarry for construction material. 

Djoser Age Artifact

Serdab Stone of Djoser Pyramid

A beautifully kept limestone statue of Netjerikhet was observed in the Serdab of his funerary complex at Saqqara. Measuring 1 meter 42 in height, this statue does the king regally sat on a throne with a high backrest, wear the typical cloak of the Heb-Sed. So, the king was thought to continue the Heb-Sed jubilees after his death, which would guarantee him of an eternal life.

The statue's left hand is open and breathing palm down on his left leg. His right arm is held across his chest, with the hand closed. An new nemes head cloth partly covers a heavy wig. The black paint on this wig and on the false beard is still visible, as is the brown paint on characters of his face. The eyes were once mounted with glass. The nose is somewhat damaged and taces of a black painted moustache are yet present.

An lettering on the front of the base of the statue places the king as: The King of Upper and Lower Egypt, the one of, the Two Ladies, Netjerikhet.

Djoser (Netjerykhet) (2630—2611)

Djoser statue' base

King Djoser was the first king of the Third Dynasty (present-day sources give the Horus name Netjerkhet: the name Djoser is only attested in later sources). Builder of the step pyramid in Saqqara. The complex is published in several volumes (Lauer 1936/1939 - the architecture). The second pharaoh of the third dynasty was Netjerykhet, the son of Khasekhemwy. As Well known as Djoser, he governed for almost two decades and is credited with building the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. The king's vizier, Imhotep, was the designer of that great tomb, and of the amazing Funerary Complex of Djoser at Saqqara. Egypt known a seven year famine during Djoser's reign, so he sought the advise of Imhotep and one of his governors, Medir, and agreed to travel to Elephantine at Aswan. Once there he raised a temple to the god Khnum, who was said to controlled the flow of the Nile. The famine finished, miraculously decent, and people considered it was due to this act of faith.

Djoser is the most famous pharaoh of the third Dynasty. Through contemporary sources, he is only identified by his Horus- and Nebti-names, Netjerikhet, "the divine of body". Later sources, among which a New Kingdom reference on his Step Pyramid at Saqqara, confirm that the Djoser from the king lists and the detergent builder of the Step Pyramid, Netjerikhet are one and the same. According to the Turin King-list, Netjerikhet governed for about 19 years, following the 20 year long reign of the opposite unattested Nebka. Archaeological sources, however, have shown that he must be considered as the first king after Khasekhemwi, the last king of the 2nd Dynasty. The order by which some heralds of Kheops are mentioned on the Papyrus Westcar may confirm that Nebka must be located between Netjerikhet and Huni and not before. The fact that the "Turin King list" has observed Netjerikhet's name in red may also be large.

In view of Netjerikhet's construction projects, especially at Saqqara, the number of years attributable to him by the Turin King-list has been doubted as well. It is not supposed that the Turin King-list has wrong bi-annual cattle-counts for years. If this is indeed the case, then Netjerikhet may have found up to 37 or 38 years. Nimaathapu, the wife of Khasekhemwi, is known to have kept the title "Mother of the King". This makes it likely that Netjerikhetwas her son, with Khasekhemwi his father. Three royal women are identified from during his reign: Inetkawes, Hetephernebti and a third one whose name is destroyed. One of them might have been his wife, others perhaps daughters or sisters. The relationship between Netjerikhet and his heir, Sekhemkhet is not known.

Sanakhte (2650—2630)

Relief fragment of Sanakht

Sanakhte, pharaoh of the Third Dynasty, take position uncertain. Zanakht was the give of the 3rd Dynasty, and was the older brother of Djoser. Zanakht's figure is listed in the Abydos Book of Kings, the (Turin Canon) and in the (Westcar Papyrus). Sanakhte's tomb at Sakkara was unified into the Step Pyramid. The prevail of Sanakht and its chronology are somewhat serious. The Horus-name Sanakht can not be engaged with certainty to any of the names noted in the king-lists. Settled on a source that stops the Horus-name Sanakht and part of a second name that finishes with the element "Ka", it has been advised that Sanakht was the Horus-name of a king only known in the king-lists, Nebka.

According to the Turin King-list and historian Manetho, Nebka was a precursor of Netjerikhet (Djoser), the give of the 3rd Dynasty. Other King-lists do not quotation Nebka at all, whereas the Papyrus Westcar, listing some precursors of Kheops, refers Nebka after Djoser and ahead Huni. The archaeological sources still, show that Sanakht must be located after Netjerikhet (Djoser), more towards the end of the dynasty and probably before Huni. If the idenitification of the Horus Sanakht with the king Nebka from the king-lists is correct and the Turin King-list simply misplaced this king, then it is manageable that Sanakht ruled for some 19 years. Sanakht's name has been base on the island of Elephantine, Egypt's south border, and on a fragmentary rest in the Sinai, where he is shown slaying a foe. Although this is a very traditional pose for a king, it is possible that this relief fragment indicates some military activity by the king in the Sinai region. Sanakht's name is as well present in the persists of a small pyramid built on the island of Elephantine, Egypt's south edge at that time. It seems to have been the customs during the reigns of Huni and Snofru to built small pyramids passim the country. The intention of these small pyramids is not in full known, but the fact that remains of a like monument of Sanakht has been got on Elephantine may confirm that he was a herald of Huni.

A funerary memorial for Sanakht has not yet been found or placed as such. Zanakht was the break of the 3rd Dynasty, and was the older brother of Pharaoh Djoser. Zanakht's name is numbered in the Abydos Book of Kings, the Turin Canon and in the  Westcar Papyrus. His tomb at Saqqara was incorporated into the Step Pyramid. This swayer has by custom been considered the founder of the third dynasty, but in the last decades of the 1900s this has been wondered by Egyptologists. A fact is that Sahnakht's tomb isn't found with sure thing, but the big mastaba from Beit Kallahf near Abydos (see picture below), has very strong indicators to pointing out his final breathing place. Since historian Manetho has stated that a rule from this time was very tall and heavy built, the earthly remains from this mastaba-tomb makes it even more spectacular since it might be the oldest pharaoh who is preserved from this early state of Egyptian history.

The Unfinished Obelisk

The Unfinished Obelisk of Aswan

It is a huge obelisk yet to be finished. If finished, it would have easy around 41 m and would have weighed nearly 117 tons. Its grandness lies in the fact that it carries inscriptions that explain the method acting the ancient Egyptians practiced in cutting and graving obelisks.

Also the unfinished obelisk, an unfinished part worked obelisk base was discovered in 2005 at the pits of Aswan. Likewise discovered were some rock sculptures and remains that may correspond to the site where most of the famous obelisks were worked. All these quarries in Aswan and the unfinished objects are an open-air museum and are officially saved by the Egyptian administration as an archeological site.

Saint Simeon Monastery

Monastery of Saint Simeon

Saint Simeon Monastery, in Aswan, goes back to the  6th Century AD. It is one of the most beautiful ancient Coptic monasteries that comprises a church the  walls of which illustrate pictures of Christ and the Saints.



The Monastery of Saint Simeon enclosed by desert sands, the monastery was established on two levels, the lower level of rock and the upper level of clay brick – surrounded by 10 m-high walls. At its height, the monastery may have domiciliate as many as 1000 monks, but it was partially destroyed by the troops of Sultan Saladin about 1173. The basilica has hints of frescoes. The cells set have their mastaba (bench) beds. The close room on the right includes graffiti from Muslim pilgrims who continued here en way to Mecca in El-Hejaz.

Tombs of the Nobles

The Tombs of the Nobles

The Tombs of the Nobles were  ordained  to  the  rulers  of Aswan and Elephantine Island in the old years. They are located on the west bank of Aswan. The tombs are carved in sandstone. They have a historical importance that points them at the spotlight of the tombs of Upper Egypt. The most important of these tombs are Mekhu and Sabni tombs that act the architectural style of the tombs at that time. The dedications on the walls of the tombs prove the titles of the governors of Upper Egypt, the posts they occupied and the characters they played to protect the area as well as their journeys in middle of Africa.

Amun Island

Amun Island is a smaller island in Aswan. Recently, a hotel was established there.

Amun Island

Agilkia Island

Agilkia Island

Agilkia  Island  comprises  the  Philae  Temples and  memorials  that  were  flooded  by  the  Nile and were relocated and reassembled on the island 500 meters from Philae Temples place.

A gilkia Island is an island in the reservoir of the Old Aswan Dam along the NileRiver in southern Egypt; it is the show site of the relocated Ancient Egyptian temple complex of Philae.Partially to completely flooded by the old dam's structure in 1902, the Philae complex was dismantled and relocated to A gilkia island, as part of a wider Unesco project referred to the 1960s construction of the Aswan High Dam and the final flooding of many sites posed by its large reservoir upriver. A gilkia , like the island, was the name chosen for the projected landing site on a comet by the Rosetta place craft mission's Philae lander. Upon first touchdown yet, the lander took a large bounce followed by a smaller one before finally getting to rest perhaps a kilometer away from A gilkia, named Abydos.

Nilometer

The Nilometer in Aswan

The Nilometer dates back to the Roman era and it shows the scales of the Nile flood in Arabic and Greek languages. It had been practiced till late.

This Nilometer is one of the most whole relics of Elephantine Island. Remember that a Nilometer was in fact an cat's-paw. Dissimilar many types of artifacts, an tool and particularly an instrument as important as the Nilometer had to be kept in a state of repair to be functional. The Elephantine Nilometer has been dated to Roman times, with markings in cubits (about 2 1/3 inches). Yet, this was likely only a renovation, and while all of the special pieces have been substituted at some point, there has probably been a Nilometer here, are close here for as long as Nilometer have existed. There are dedications from the reigns of Tuthmosis III and Amenophis III (18th Dynasty) and of Psammetichus II (26th Dynasty) about here. Afterward having been idle for some time, the Nilometer was again rebuilt by the French and Arab during the 19th Century and placed back in use. Hence, it now has markings in French and Arabic. Today, satellites are applied to measure water flushes, and the Aswan Dam has alleviated the need for such instruments.

Kitchener's Island

Kitchener's Island

A Felucca ride by local boat from the side bank of the Nile in Aswan and a three hour drive from Luxor City with an alternative to fly from Cairo to Aswan in about one hour.

Kitchener's Island is also known as the Island of Plants, set on the Nile near Aswan in the South of Egypt. Introduced with the island in gratitude for his military exploits in Sudan, Consul-General Kitchener gratified his love for exotic flora, importation shrubs and seeds from as far afield as India and Malaysia. Today this island-wide botanical garden is a lovely place to spend a low afternoon (except on Fridays), with much of birdlife. The island is accessible by rowing boat or felucca from the west bank or Elephantine. The broken strait between Elephantine and Amun island looks its best from a Felucca. If you are not already waterborne, the surrounding coves are frequented by local lads who'll blithely sail you to any of the islands or the West Bank.

Elephantine Island

Elephantine Island

Elephantine Island is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Aswan. It is like a piece of paradise with its some gardens and precious archeological relics. It is a great place for entertainment, where visitors can enjoy strolling among the black houses in the Nubian villages of Siou and Koti on the island, fishing in the Nile, or taking a walk on its banks.