Cut
into the high cliffs across the river from
the modern city of Aswan lies Qubbet el-Hawa,
the site of the elite pharaonic cemetery
associated with the ancient town. The earliest
tombs here belong to high officials of
the Old Kingdom. Although the interiors
are sparsely decorated, “autobiographies” carved
into their facades provide fascinating
details of the lives of these men, several
of whom led trading and military expeditions
south into Nubia. Other tombs here belong
to nomarchs (provincial governors) from
the Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom officials.
One of the most spectacular tombs here,
that of Sarenput, dates from the 12th Dynasty.
HOURS OF
OPERATION:
Daily, 9 AM - 5
PM
TICKET COST:
Egyptian:
2 LE
Foreign: 25 LE
LOCATION:
On
the western bank at Aswan, just north
of Qubbet el-Hawa.
DIRECTIONS:
BY
FERRY: A public ferry runs every 30 minutes
from
the Corniche to Aswan
Min Gharb, costing 1 LE for foreigners.
You can either walk or hire
transport to the ticket booth for the Tombs of the Nobles, or the maqabar el
nobla’a.
BY
BOAT: It is also possible to hire a private
boat, such as a motorboat or felucca,
to take you to the west bank.
NO
PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED INSIDE THE TOMBS
The site is not wheelchair accessible. |