Nubia Museum

Nubia Museum Review

The Nubia Museum is the triumphant capstone of the effort to preserve Nubian culture and folk heritage in the wake of the building of the Aswan High Dam. The Egyptian government financed it with technical assistance from UNESCO. Arranged chronologically, it takes you through Nubia's prehistory; the pharaonic dynasties, including the Kingdom of Kush, when Nubian kings ruled Egypt; and onward through its Christian and Islamic periods. The selection of statuary is extraordinary for its range and eclecticism. There is also a diorama with scenes of Nubian village life. And that's just indoors. The museum's extensive grounds are a harmony of landscaping, water features, and artifacts, including a typical Nubian house. There is a lot to take in—allow about two hours for the well-curated displays.

The museum's harmonious architecture incorporates a Fatamid tomb. It comes from a group of poorly preserved monuments believed to date from the 8th to 12th centuries AD, located in the adjacent Fatamid Cemetery. The museum is a five-minute walk south of the Old Cataract Hotel.