The Nile · Aswan
Elephantine Island
A Nile island in the heart of Aswan, joining pharaonic ruins, a museum and quiet Nubian villages, reached by a short boat ride from the Corniche.
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The story
Elephantine sits at the northern end of the First Cataract of the Nile and served as the gateway for trade arriving in Egypt from Nubia. Its settlement goes back to the earliest centuries of Egyptian history. The island was home to temples of Khnum, the god linked with the Nile flood, and of Satet, a goddess associated with guarding Egypt's southern frontier. In the fifth century BC an Aramaic-speaking community lived here and left papyri that reveal glimpses of its daily life. The German Archaeological Institute has excavated on the island since 1969, and some of its finds are displayed in the island's museum. Beside the ruins stretch two Nubian villages, Koti and Siou.
Good to know
- The island was the trading gateway between Nubia and Egypt, and goods from the south passed through it.
- The island holds the remains of the temples of Khnum and Satet, ancient houses and a Nilometer.
- The German Archaeological Institute has been excavating here since 1969.
- An Aramaic-speaking community lived here in the fifth century BC and left important papyri.
- Today the island is home to two Nubian villages, Koti and Siou.
Visiting tips
Per the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities site: listed hours are 8:00 to 16:00, and foreign-visitor tickets are EGP 200 (EGP 100 students). Please check hours and prices before visiting, as they can change.