Dr. Nuria Sanz, Head of UNESCO Cairo, paid a field visit of several days to Abu Simbel Temples accompanied by representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA).
The objective was to set up the criteria to complete the ‘Improved Accessibility and Presentation of Cultural Sites in Egypt including World Heritage Site’ project.
Remarkably successful, the Nubian campaign put heritage preservation —and UNESCO— in the spotlight. It lay the ground for UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention of 1972 and led to other landmark safeguarding campaigns namely in Italy, Cambodia and Indonesia.
The Great Temples of Rameses II
This visit of several days was articulated around the ten monuments added since 1979 to the UNESCO World Heritage List:
- The temples of Rameses II in Abu Simbel;
- Amada;
- Wadi Sebua;
- Kalabsha;
- Philae (Island of Agilkia);
- The ancient granite quarries and unfinished obelisk in Aswan;
- The Islamic Cemetery;
- The ruins of the ancient city of Elephantine;
- The Monastery of St Simeon;
- The Tombs of the Nobles.
The Abu Simbel visit included the visitor’s center and documentation center, the Great Temple of King Ramesses II of the Nineteenth Dynasty (c. 1264 B.C.), and the Small Temple of Royal Wife, Queen Nefertari. The unfinished obelisk and the Fatimid Cemetery, whose unique architectural style dates back to the stages of the Islamic period of Egypt in 21 AH, were also included.
Discovered in the early 20th century, the unfinished obelisk had been covered by sand for thousands of years. Had it been finished, it would have weighed 1168 tonnes, and stood at a heigh of around 42 meters, taller than any other ancient Egyptian obelisk.
The Tombs of the Nobles are situated near the West Bank of Aswan at the northern edge of Elephantine Island. They are of significant importance as they provide information about the history of Egypt during the Old and the Middle Kingdom.
While the Monastery of St. Simeon was established in the 7th century by Coptic monks seeking to escape to the meditative quiet of the desert.
The discussions provided an opportunity to consider future opportunities for collaboration between UNESCO Cairo and MoTA.
The project aims to plan and construct a systematic interpretation and presentation program of Culture Heritage Site, through a the preparation of a manual for the national guidelines, that can effectively communicate heritage information and value to the public and provide visitors with positive and valuable experiences.
The visit came to an end with the official event in which the Director General of Antiquities of Aswan, Dr. Abdelmonem Said and Dr. Sanz witnessed the new installation of interpretive and information panels at Kom Ombo archaelogical site in Aswan.
Once the project is completed, Aswan World Heritage sites will be a reference for the interpretation strategies in serial sites in Egypt and outside Egypt.
