New Kalabsha is a
promontory
A promontory is a raised mass of land that projects into a lowland or a body of water (in which case it is a peninsula). Most promontories either are formed from a hard ridge of rock that has resisted the erosive forces that have removed the so ...
located near
Aswan in
Egypt.
Created during the
International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia, it houses several important temples, structures, and other remains that have been relocated here from the site of Old Kalabsha ( ar, باب الكلابشة , "Gate of Kalabsha", grc, Ταλμις ) and other sites in Lower Nubia, to avoid the rising waters of
Lake Nasser
Lake Nasser ( ar, بحيرة ناصر ', ) is a vast reservoir in Southern Egypt and northern Sudan. It is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Before construction, Sudan was against the building of Lake Nasser because it would encro ...
caused by the construction of the
Aswan High Dam. The major remains are described below:
Kalabsha Temple
The Temple of Kalabsha (or Temple of
Mandulis) is the major structure in New Kalabsha. The entire
Roman Period temple to the sun god
Mandulis was relocated here in 1970. It was built by
Emperor Augustus and was the largest free-standing temple of Egyptian
Nubia. During relocation, the temple was cut into 13,000 blocks.
Gerf Hussein
The temple of Gerf Hussein (originally known as ''Per Ptah'', the "House of
Ptah") is dedicated to
Ramesses II and was built by the Viceroy of
Nubia Setau. Originally, it was partially free-standing and partially rock-cut. During the flooding of
Lake Nasser
Lake Nasser ( ar, بحيرة ناصر ', ) is a vast reservoir in Southern Egypt and northern Sudan. It is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Before construction, Sudan was against the building of Lake Nasser because it would encro ...
, the free-standing section was dismantled and then rebuilt at New Kalabsha. Most of the rock-cut temple was left in place and is now submerged beneath the waters.
Beit el-Wali
The rock-cut temple of Beit el-Wali was moved from its original location by a Polish archaeological team. It is dedicated to
Ramesses II, and the gods of
Amun
Amun (; also ''Amon'', ''Ammon'', ''Amen''; egy, jmn, reconstructed as (Old Egyptian and early Middle Egyptian) → (later Middle Egyptian) → (Late Egyptian), cop, Ⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ, Amoun) romanized: ʾmn) was a major ancient Egyptian ...
and
Anukis (among others). It was originally decorated in bright colors, but these were mostly removed by a "squeeze" taken in the 19th Century (the results of this squeeze are now on display in the
British Museum).
Kiosk of Qertassi
The Kiosk of Qertassi is "a tiny Roman kiosk with four slender papyrus columns inside
ndtwo Hathor columns at the entrance." It is a small but elegant structure that "is unfinished and not inscribed with the name of the architect, but is probably contemporary with
Trajan's Kiosk at Philae."
[Christine Hobson: ''Exploring the World of the Pharaohs: A complete guide to Ancient Egypt.'' Thames & Hudson 1993 paperback, p.185]
Dedwen
Originally located within the outer wall of the temple of Kalabsha, and is dedicated to the
Nubian serpent god,
Dedwen. It was moved along with the Kalabsha temple to New Kalabsha.
References
External links
{{commons category
Archaeological sites in Egypt