Lower Nubia: Aswan & Abu Simbel
"Things are not value for the time they last, but for the traces left"
(Proverbio árabe)
Lower Nubia is considered the territory between the first cataract of the Nile located in Aswan and the Second Cataract, now flooded by Lake Nasser, beyond the site of Abu Simbel.
This area annexed to Egypt belonged to Sudan and was the subject of countless battles since the ancient Egyptians considered the territory as their hunting zone and supply of Nubian slaves. Today we can see how near Aswan there are populations whose inhabitants are of Nubian origin who maintain their traditions, different from the Egyptians. The main town in the area is certainly Aswan, by the fact of having the first cataract of the Nile that is currently the Aswan Dam wich regulates the river flow preventing flood disasters.
This city has among other attractions a very lively souk plenty of spice shops, crafts and various utensils, where you can still see old trades in the streets. It is well worth exploring.
About 300 kms from Aswan is Abu Simbel, is an archaeological World Heritage site since 1979. The temples were excavated in the rock during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the thirteenth century B.C., as a monument dedicated to this king and his wife Nefertari (Nubian origin) to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh and show its power to his Nubian neighbors, so the four statues of Ramses II facing Nubia are guarding the border.
