National Geographic History - July 2019

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HISTORY 17

dam, built in 1902, had already flooded some of

the monuments, including the temple complex

of Philae. The new project further threatened

this area, as well as scores of other sites, includ-

ing the Abu Simbel complex near the Egypt-

Sudan border.

In 1960, the executive committee of UNESCO

(the United Nations Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization) launched its Internation-

al Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nu-

bia, appealing for the help of its member states.

Some 30 countries formed national

committees—made up of research-

ers, archaeologists, historians, en-

gineers, and architects—to carry

out the rescue mission. Following

an aerial survey that identified the

location of the archaeological areas

most likely to be flooded, some 20

foreign delegations launched cam-

paigns to safeguard the monuments.

of Egypt’s president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, it
would prevent destructive flooding, generate
power, and boost agriculture in the region.
The project, however, had major drawbacks.
The creation of Lake Nasser, a 298-mile-long
artificial reservoir upriver from the dam, and
whose southern limits extend into Sudan, would
require the resettlement of 90,000 people. The
impact on the monuments that studded the Nu-
bian region would also be catastrophic. A smaller

1980
One year after the
successful re-grouping of
the Philae temple complex
on an island, UNESCO
formally concludes its
Nubia campaign.

BRIDGEMAN/ACI

UNDERWATER TEMPLES

Trajan’s Kiosk, part of the temple complex

of Philae, lies submerged in the 1970s. Even

before the construction of the Aswan High

Dam in 1960, Philae suffered repeated

flooding from a dam built in 1902. Soon after

this picture was taken, the complex was

transferred to dry land on Agilkia.

BRIDGEMAN/ACI

STAMP ISSUED BY THE

LIBYAN GOVERNMENT

(BELOW) TO RAISE FUNDS

FOR THE ENDANGERED

NUBIAN MONUMENTS.