El-Kab Attractions
The remains of El-Kab, the ancient Nekhab, lie on the east bank of the Nile between the railroad and the river. In Pre-Dynastic and Early Dynastic times Nekhab was capital of the kingdom of Upper Egypt, and it continued to be one of the country's leading cities; in the Ptolemai period it was capital of the third nome of Upper Egypt, later the Latopolita nome.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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The town goddess was Nekh bet, who was represented either as a vulture or as a woman with the crown of Upper Egypt. Corresponding to the cobra goddess Uto of Lower Egypt, she was the protective deity of the kingdom, the principal goddess of Upper Egypt and the goddess of childbirth. The Greeks, therefore, identified her with their goddess Eileithyia and named the town Eileithyiaspolis.
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Ruins of Ancient Nekhab
The ruins of ancient Nekhab are surrounded by thick brick walls built in the time of the Middle Kingdom. Inside are several temples, including the Temple of Nekhbet, and the temples of Tuthmosis III, Amenophis II, and Ramesses II.
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Temple of Amenophis III
(Ruins of Ancient Nekhab)
The small Temple of Amenophis III, dedicated to Nekhbet, contains well preserved scenes in the main chamber which have retained much of their colors.
Temple of Tuthmosis III
A short distance west of the hill containing the tombs is a small Temple of Tuthmosis III, now completely ruined.
