El Kab (Elythias) – Walled Town & Tombs
El Kab · Eileithyiaspolis · Nekheb · Elythias
Predynastic to Ptolemaic (c. 3500 BCE – 30 BCE; peak 1550–1070 BCE)·Egyptian (Naqada – New Kingdom – Late)·🇪🇬 Aswan Governorate, east bank Nile 80 km north of Aswan, opposite Hierakonpolis, Egypt
About
About El Kab (Elythias) – Walled Town & Tombs
Twin to Hierakonpolis, El Kab's double walls 12 m high enclose predynastic to New Kingdom town with rock tombs narrating Hyksos expulsion (Ahmose son of Ibana biography). Temple of Nekhbet and desert rock art.
Why it mattersKey Predynastic to Ptolemaic (c. 3500 BCE – 30 BCE; peak 1550–1070 BCE) site illustrating Egyptian (Naqada – New Kingdom – Late) urbanism and upper egyptian fortress town and sacred centre of nekhbet vulture goddess facing.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Predynastic wall phase vs Early Dynastic rebuilding
Theories
- 01Twin kingdom origin model (Nekhen–Nekheb)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Predynastic settlement; massive Early Dynastic–New Kingdom mudbrick walls 12 m high c. 2500 BCE rebuilt 1550 BCE
- Period
- Predynastic to Ptolemaic (c. 3500 BCE – 30 BCE; peak 1550–1070 BCE)
- Culture
- Egyptian (Naqada – New Kingdom – Late)
- Purpose
- Upper Egyptian fortress town and sacred centre of Nekhbet vulture goddess facing Hierakonpolis
- Excavation
- Excavated
Predynastic settlement; massive Early Dynastic–New Kingdom mudbrick walls 12 m high c. 2500 BCE rebuilt 1550 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
25.1190° N · 32.7970° E · 82 m · 3 mapped features
El Kab (Elythias) — Principal Gate
gateMain gate and rampart section at El Kab (Elythias) – Walled Town & Tombs
25.1196° N · 32.7976° EEl Kab (Elythias) — Central Forum/Basilica
forumForum–basilica complex at El Kab (Elythias) – Walled Town & Tombs
25.1190° N · 32.7970° EEl Kab (Elythias) — Baths/Cisterns
bathsBaths and cistern cluster at El Kab (Elythias) – Walled Town & Tombs
25.1184° N · 32.7964° E