Kalabsha
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kalabsha".

Coordinates: 23°57′39″N 32°52′2″E / 23.96083, 32.86722

Kalabsha in its original setting

Gerf Hussein

Gerf Hussein reconstructed

New Kalabsha is a promontory located near Aswan in Egypt by the Aswan High Dam.¹ It houses several important temples, structures and other remains that have been relocated here to avoid the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The major remains are described below:

Kalabsha Temple

Main article: Temple of Kalabsha

The Temple of Kalabsha is the major structure in New Kalabsha, and the entire area is named after it. Originally located in Kalabsha, this Roman Period temple to Mandulis was relocated here in 1970. It was built by Emperor Augustus, and was the largest free-standing temple of Egyptian Nubia, for relocating the temple was cut into 13000 blocks.

Gerf Hussein

Main article: Gerf Hussein

The temple of Gerf Hussein (originally known as Per Ptah, or 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 the free-standing section was dismantled and has been reconstructed at New Kalabsha. Most of the rock cut temple was left in place and is now submerged beneath the waters.

Beit el-Wali

Main article: Beit el-Wali

The rock-cut temple of Beit el-Wali was moved from its original location, to rescue it from the waters of Lake Nasser by a Polish archaeological team. It is dedicated to Ramesses II, and the gods of Amun and Anukis (amongst others). It was originally decorated in bright colours, but these were mostly removed by a 'squeeze' taken in the 19th Century (the results of this squeeze is now on display in the British Museum).

Kiosk of Qertassi

Main article: Kiosk of Qertassi

The Kiosk of Qertassi is a "a tiny Roman kiosk with four slender papyrus columns inside, two Hathor columns at the entrance."² 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."³

Dedwen

Main article: Temple of Dedwen

Originally located within the outer wall of the temple of Kalabsha, and is dedicated to the Nubian serpent goddess, Dedwen. It was moved along with the Kalabsha itself temple to New Kalabsha.

References