Egypt's winter tourist spots: Aswan

Ola R. Seif , Saturday 20 Dec 2014

With winter finally here, we invite you to discover the history of Egypt's most popular winter resorts

Aswan
Vintage postcard showing a crocodile hunt in Aswan

At this time of the year as the calendar announces its end, the cooler climate brings the town of Aswan into the limelight. Known as a winter resort, Aswan is a destination for both local and foreign tourists seeking sun, beautiful scenery, and a bit of a break from the hustle and bustle of other touristic hot

Although there are a few nearby towns, namely Kom Ombo, Dendera and Edfou, with cultural and historical sites, Aswan’s primary charm lies in its peaceful Nile scenery, its cataracts and the urban simplicity of the town.

View of Aswan and the Nile
Vintage postcard courtesy of Ola R. Seif

Aswan railway station
Courtesy of Ola R. Seif

Early twentieth century postcards show an Aswan mainly composed of a corniche road where the well-known historic hotel Cataract and a few less well-known ones such as the Khedivial and the Post hotels once stood.

View over Aswan
Courtesy of Ola R. Seif

Famous Aswan monuments
Courtesy of Al-Ahram Digital Archive


Beyond the typical scenery that all tourists journey to see, some more adventurous explorers came back with somewhat exotic photos.  Those include photos of the Bishari tribe conducting their daily activities and some more uncommon postcards from the early decades of the twentieth century, showing crocodile hunting scenes mostly in the Nile waters south of Aswan.

As uncommon as this activity is, the postcards suggest that the hunting procedure was relatively primitive, often involving young men hunting the crocodile with sticks. However, in most cases the chase was ended by a bullet, despite the difficulty of penetrating the thick skin of the crocodile. This chase was mostly performed on the Nile shore anywhere south of Aswan, or close to the borders of Sudan.

Aswan hotels
Courtesy of Ola R. Seif

Aswan railway station
Courtesy of Ola R. Seif

The amateur hunters were usually after small crocodiles that would later be mummified and sold to tourists in the curiosity bazaars of Aswan.

The mummified crocodiles were also considered to be useful talismans against the evil eye, and sometimes hung above the doorsteps of Nubian houses or even over the doorsteps in traditional houses in historic Cairo. In addition, crocodile skin was used to make a variety of products.

Crocodile hunting in Aswan
Courtesy of Ola R. Seif

Hanging crocodiles on doorways for good luck
Courtesy of Ola R. Seif


Historically, the crocodile featured in ancient Egyptian mythology as a part of Nile scenes or papyrus swamp landscapes, its preferred territory. As well as being hunted and feared, it was worshipped because of its strength.

The crocodile god Sobek was a god of fertility and the creator of the world, and a portion of the Kom Ombo temple, not far from Aswan, is dedicated to him.

During ancient times, the crocodile not only inhabited the entire length of the Nile, but were also was found in canals and pools, as well as in Lake Moeris in Fayoum.

Over time, the crocodile's range decreased, and with the construction of the Aswan Dam they were eradicated from the Egyptian Nile north of the dam.

Their presence had threatened the lives of fisherman, and their predation had impacted the fishing industry. But their retention behind the dam allowed the population of crocodiles to recover in Lake Nasser, where hunting crocs is now illegal – although that does not stop the occasional safari.

Aswan monuments relocated because of the building of the High Dam in the early sixties
Courtesy of Ahram Digital Archive

Aswan monuments relocated because of the building of the High Dam in the early sixties
Courtesy of Ahram Digital Archive



Photos courtesy of Ola R. Seif and Al-Ahram digital archive.

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