Location:
Aswan, Egypt
How to get there:
International flights direct to Aswan, or via many European and Eastern European cities. Also package tours and charter flights. Contact your travel agent for details.
Description
The Nubia Museum harbors the history of the "Land of Gold" as the word Nubia in the
Hieroglyphic, language of ancient Egypt in which pictorial symbols are used to represent
meaning and sounds, means the "Land of Gold"...Hence, this land, over times, was abounding
in monumental treasures.
The Nubia Museum, in Aswan, as a matter of fact, is deemed to be one of the most
important Egyptian museums. A number of factors have combined together, yielding the
magnificence of such museum, as it is the only unique open museum of its kind.
Preparing this museum lasted for ten years, all dedicated for hard work to come up with
such lovely museum. Let alone, it stands as a wonderful model of international cultural
cooperation representing in United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO).
In April 6 th, 1959, the Egyptian government appealed to the United Nations Educational,
Cultural, and Scientific Organization (UNESCO), seeking help to salvage the monumental
sites in Nubia, hence, the area between Aswan and the Sudan was inundated by the Nile
waters especially after completing the Aswan Dam.
The response of the (UNESCO), in fact, came fast, as it called upon the international
community to contribute to this project.
Since then, (UNESCO) has been a key player in the archaeological field in Egypt.
In no time, the executive committee, comprising representative of 15 member states, was
set up, and was commissioned with studying technical, monumental and financial reports with
the aim of providing the (UNESCO) with basic information required to effectively implement
the project.
The (UNESCO), obviously, has contributed much to nudging the entire world to pay more
attention to saving such invaluable monuments. By the end of 1975, and as a result of this
relentless support on the part of the (UNESCO), the donations influx - contributed by 24
countries - amounted to $ 123304.
Unsurprisingly then that the operation of saving the Nubian monuments was described as
the greatest in the history of saving monuments.
The operation, as known, included dismantling Abu Simbel Temple, inter alia, moving it to
another area to be reassembled once again. Abu Simbel Temple was completely dismantled to
1036 pieces, each with average of 7 to 30 tons, as they were rebuilt on the top of the mountain
overlooking the genuine spots, drawn by the ancient Egyptians 3000 years ago.
The world outcry, however, was translated into many concrete actions; donations to salvage
the deteriorated-condition monuments, a number of excavation missions - which pursued their
tasks in such hard conditions in areas extend 500 kilometres along the Nile banks.
A number of 40 missions have taken part in this great but difficult job, unearthing several
priceless treasures dating back to pre-history times; Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Islamic and
Coptic.
Fossils, which were discovered during excavations, undoubtedly provided full knowledge
about Nubian life and its development along ages.
In January, 1975, the General Egyptian Authority for Antiquities submitted a request to the
(UNESCO) seeking the organisation's assistance to preserve the ancient Egyptian
monuments, through establishing a city for museums harbouring a cluster of open museums
with a view to displaying rare and wonderful monuments of various ages.
Being the main supporter to save the Nubian monuments, the (UNESCO) approved this
request, and entrusted the executive committee, responsible for salvaging operations, with
assuming the tasks of this new project. This committee was named the "The Executive
Committee for the International Campaign for Establishing the International Museum of the
Monuments of Nubia in Aswan, and the National Museum for Ancient Egyptian Museum in
Cairo".
Since February, 1981, a number of symposiums and seminars was held for contribution to
this great project. It was the first time in the history of the (USECO) to decide launching an
international campaign to establish local museum. This, however, could be ascribed to the
magnificent monumental treasures Egypt has.
On February 4 th, 1986, the foundation stone of the museum of Nubia was laid down, playing
new effective role that was derived from the spring of culture and civilization at both home and
international levels.
To the Egyptians, the museum is to display life over centuries. As for foreign visitors, the
museum will show the history of such unique area, as a source of knowledge for researchers
from around the globe.
The International Museum of Nubia is located in Aswan on an area of 50,000 square
meters, 7000 of which are excluded to building, while the rest designed to be the yard of the
museum.
The building has three floors for displaying and housing, in addition to a library and
information center. The largest part of the museum is occupied by the monumental pieces,
reflecting phases of the development of the Nubian culture and civilization.
Three thousands pieces of antiq., representing various ages; Geological, Pharaonic, Roman,
Coptic and Islamic, were registered. The open-door exhibition includes 90 rare monumental
pieces, while the internal halls contain 50 invaluable pieces dating back to the pre-history
times, 503 pieces belong to Pharaonic time, 52 of Coptic era, 103 of Islamic age, 140 of Nubian
time, in addition to 360 pieces having the tang of Aswan.
The work in this unique edifice lasted for 11 years straight, and cost LE 60 million.
The museum of Nubia gained this unique position simply because it harbors unique
monuments not in any elsewhere.
It houses the statute of Ramsis II, which was laid at the very forefront of the Museum,
statute of Amenras the spiritual wife of Amen, she is of Nubian origin. It, also, has the head of
the Shpatka, of the Nubian origin, made of rosy granite, head of black granite of Tahraqa, the
Nubian King, whose reign during the 7th century BC was said to be full of prosperity. There is
a temple of his name with gold-plated pillars.
There are, also, four mummies for nobles, which were found in Kashmatkh town in Nubia.
The museum, as well, houses several models and styles of the Nubian heritage, the
panorama of the Nile, depicting live image of the River Nile streaming through its banks.
There is also a model for the Nubian-style house, typically copied to mirror the nature of life
in Nubia.
All pieces exhibited in the museum reflect the character of the Nubia over history and
display how it merged with the Islamic civilization on one hand and the mother civilization of
Egypt on the other.
So, the museum of Nubia plays vital role not only at the level of promoting Nubia to the
entire world but also at the level of maintaining monuments and supporting researchers,
interested in Nubia, from around the globe.
This, however could be achieved through the museum's study center and the documentation
centers which publish more information on the "Land of Gold" in Egypt, the past, the present
and the future.
Nubia Museum, which hosts 3000 monumental pieces of several times, ranks tenth in the
list of the museums inaugurated in Egypt over the past three years. An array of important
museums, however, has been inaugurated; Mohamed Nagui Museum, Modern Egyptian Art
Museum, Museum of Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil and his wife, Museum of Ahmed Desouki,
Port Said Museum for Modern Arts, Taha Hussein Museum, and the Mummification Museum
in Luxor.
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