Suhail Island
About 4 kilometers south of Aswan lies Suhail Island. It is located within the First Cataract of the Nile, 2 kilometers south of Elephantine Island. Its significance comes not only from the beauty of its natural composition and breathtaking views, and the fact that it is a quarry of solid granite, but also because it contains more than 600 rock carvings.
These carvings are etched into the rocks of this island and date back to prehistoric times through the Greek and Roman periods. They testify to the island’s ancient history, spanning nearly 4,000 years during the New Kingdom era around 1550 BC. The inhabitants of Elephantine Island as well as travelers passing by left texts here. There are inscriptions commemorating their names and visits, as well as some religious scenes.
The most important inscription of all is the Famine Stela, a hieroglyphic text that tells of a seven-year drought and famine during the reign of Pharaoh Djoser from the Third Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. It is engraved in 42 vertical columns on a granite block. The text reports that in the eighth year of Djoser’s reign, a seven-year drought and famine occurred because the Nile flood did not cover the Egyptian lands with water and silt. King Djoser says: “I mourned for my throne, and the people in the palace were in sorrow, and my heart was broken because my love did not come at the right time.”
The best Hurghada excursions
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Private boat tour Hurghada
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Private snorkeling tour Hurghada
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Orange Beach Hurghada