ABSTRACT
THE antiquities in the neighbourhood of Aswan as far south as the island of Sehel have already been described. Not far
above this stands the great Barrage which was built for the purpose of storing water in Lower Nubia during the winter in order to use it when the Nile is low in the early summer. Unfortunately the construction of this reservoir necessitated the submersion of the island of Philce, and at the present time the winter visitor to Egypt may sail in a boat through the temple there. It has now been decided to raise the barrage considerably, and in about the year 1912 the temple will be almost wholly submerged, and many other ruins will meet with the same fate. Very elaborate works are now being undertaken by the Egyptian Government to prevent any damage being done to these buildings by the water; and extensive excavations are being carried out over the threatened territory. The visitor to Lower Nubia, after 1912, will find the following sites flooded during the winter :-
The numerous inscriptions on this little island, which lies just to the north of the direct route from Shellal station to Phil<e, need not be described here at length, as they are unlikely to be visited. There are here to be seen the great inscription of Thothmes IVth relating to his Nubian war, the cartouches of N eferabra Psametik and Apries, and the names of various persons of the XIIIth-XVlIIth dynasties, and later. The wellknown inscriptions of Neferhotep are found here; and also a stele of Amenhotep II lrd.
