The Rock-Cut Tombs of El Kab

El-Kab, located 15 km north of Edfu and 75 km south of Luxor.
Elkab is a small village in Upper Egypt, near which are the remains of the ancient city Nekhbet.

Nekheb is one of the oldest settlements of Upper Egypt.
Here was the shrine of the vulture goddess Nekhbet and it was the capital of Upper Egypt.

 

The vulture goddess Nekhbet
(parts taken from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nechbet)

Nekhbet "was an early predynastic local goddess who was the patron of the city of Nekheb, her name meaning "of Nekheb". Ultimately, she became the patron of Upper Egypt and one of the two patron deities for all of Ancient Egypt when it was unified.

In art, Nekhbet was depicted as the white vulture (representing purification), always seen on the front of pharaoh’s double crown along with Wadjet. Nekhbet usually was depicted hovering, with her wings spread above the royal image, clutching a shen symbol (representing infinity, all, or everything), frequently in both of her claws.

The priestesses of Nekhbet were called muu (mothers) and wore robes of Egyptian vulture feathers.

Egypt’s oldest oracle was the shrine of Nekhbet at Nekheb, the original necropolis or city of the dead. It was the companion city to Nekhen, the religious and political capital of Upper Egypt at the end of the Predynastic period (c. 3200–3100 BC) and probably, also during the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3100–2686 BC).

The original settlement on the Nekhen site dates from about 3400 BC. Nekhen had at least 5,000 and possibly as many as 10,000 inhabitants.

Coming from Luxor, there are ancient city walls on the right side of the road (up to 11.5 meters thick).
On the left side of the road one can see the
mountain tombs (tombs about 3500 years old).

Tomb of Paheri
(No 3) - Dyn 18
Paheri was mayor, the chief of the priests of Nekhbet, teacher for the son of Thutmosis I (about 1500 BC): prince Wadjmose. His writers also made the accounts for the corn.
His grave scenes show agriculture, fishing, bird-catching, cooking fish and poultry. One can see pictures of Paheri with his wife (see middle of picture on top of this page), and Paheri with Wadjmose on his lap (see right side).

Tomb of Setau (No 4) - Dyn 20
Setau was high priest of the vulture goddess Nekhbet under Ramses III.

Tomb of Ahmose (No 5) - Dyn 18
Ahmose, served in the Egyptian military under the pharaohs Ahmose I, Amenhotep I, and Thutmose I. His autobiography has survived and is intact on the wall of his tomb (…) Ahmose began to serve as soldier under Pharaoh Ahmose I. He participated in the battle of Avaris (the Hyksos capital in the Delta), where he killed two Hyksos and was awarded the "gold of valor" twice.
(Hyksos: (area of Syria and Canaan). Ahmose was awarded slaves and other spoils by the pharaoh after Avaris was sacked. Ahmose also participated in the three-year siege of Sharuhen in southern Canaan for which he was rewarded. He followed his king to Nubia, where they put down three rebellions.

Under Amenhotep I, he fought against the Nubians and was given gold and slaves for his bravery.

During the reign of Thutmose I, Ahmose participated in a naval campaign against Nubian tribes in the Nile valley and was appointed admiral. He also followed Thutmose on a campaign against Naharin all the way to the Euphrates River.
(See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmose,_son_of_Ebana)

Tomb of Renni (No 7), Dyn 18
Renni was mayor, and high priest at the time of Amenhotep I.

 

 

One car
Aswan - Luxor or Luxor - Aswan
(with aircondition)
for you only (no car sharing), of course including driver
one way
with stop in Komombo and Edfu:
130 USD

The same with microbus
(up to 8 persons): 180 USD

Stop at El Kab:
15 USD more.

If guide is with you, plus 45 USD more for the guide.

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G uide (optional) for temples in Komombo, Edfu: 45 USD

G uide (optional) for temples in Komombo, Edfu, Esna: 45 USD

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Optional and special:
with extra stop in
Silsila. (Please see link for the price and description).
Silsila is not possible to visit without guide)

Tickets for the temples are not included

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Prices for Aswan-Komombo-Edfu-Aswan (and not continue to Luxor), please see this website

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We have been asked for help in Luxor. So we started to add ideas for Luxor also ...

Sightseeing in Luxor

Hot Air Balloon in Luxor

Abydoss and Dendara

 

Small Pictures:
Edfu from outside
Edfu Staircase
Edfu Entrance hall
Edfu Horus
Komombo Relief
Komombo Vultures
Komombo Gates
Crocodile God Sobek

Be very careful if you change coins with Carriage drivers in Edfu (right)