El-Kab - Ruins of Ancient Nekhab

The ruins of ancient Nekhab, lying close to the Nile, are surrounded by a massive enclosure wall of sun dried bricks, probably dating from the Middle Kingdom, which has been destroyed by the river only on the southwest side. The walls, of remarkable thickness (38ft/11.50m), enclose a rectangular area measuring 590yd/540m by 625yd/570m, with gates, approached by ramps, on the east, north and south sides. The wall on the north side cuts across an ancient necropolis. Within this enclosure, occupying only about a quarter of its area, is a smaller rectangular enclosure, also surrounded by a double wall (the line of which can be easily traced), containing the principal temples. Within the outer enclosure are a number of other temples, including the Temple of Nekhbet, which was frequently altered and rebuilt down to the time of the 28th Dynasty, together with a birth house and a sacred lake, as well as temples of Tuthmosis III, Amenophis II and Ramesses II.