Situated along the east bank of River Nile is the city of Aswan. It is the 3rd largest city of Egypt and was commonly known as 'Suno', meaning 'the Market' by the Pharaohs. However, the Arabs later started addressing the city as Aswan. The city offers pleasant climatic conditions to its tourists, due to which it has become a familiar winter resort since nineteenth century AD. At present, it is a well known and largest region for iron and aluminum mining.
Built by the Roman King Octavius Augustus is the Kalabsha Temple and other monuments from Nubia. These structures were constructed with sandstone are devoted to the Mandulis, God of Fertility. These edifices were shifted to Aswan in the year 1970. Also, the Kiosk of Qertassi with its two Hathor-headed columns and Beit-al-Wali are also shifted to this city. These were built by Ramses II.
The Philae Temple was also shifted to Agilika Island after the construction of the High Dam. Agilika Island is about at a distance of 500m from Philae Island, which was the original land of the Philae Temple. This temple is devoted to the Goddess Isis and has several sanctuaries and shrines, which also include the Birth House, Two Pylons and the Temple of Hathor. Every night, the Sound and Light Show is organized which is just superb. Visitors enjoy the show amidst illuminated buildings against the backdrop of water and rocks encircling them.
