Articles Sightseeing Jebel El-Silsa
A spot that contains one of the most important and largest quarries that was the source of sandstone that was used to build temples, tombs, statues and obelisks of ancient Egypt since the beginning of the era of the 18th Pharaonic dynasty until modern times. It is the location of Jebel El-Silsa, which extends on both sides of the Nile, about two kilometers long from north to south, 20 km north of the city of Kom Ombo, and 62 km north of Aswan.
"Khenu", or "Khena", is the ancient Egyptian name for Jabal al-Silsilah. In the Coptic language, the name was translated as "the barrier" and was transformed into "Khalkhal", meaning the barrier or the stone wall, and in the Roman era, changed into "silsil".
Throughout the ages, stones were transported on ships across the Nile from the quarries south to temples and tombs, and sandstone blocks were cut to make statues, and some stone pieces are still found inside the silsilah quarries since the Old Testament that have not been moved until now.
Among the most important antiquities in the Jebel al-Silsila spot are: the cabin of King Horemheb, and the three royal panels located about 100 meters south of Horemheb’s cabin, as well as 31 small rock-cut cabins of senior statesmen from the era of the 18th dynasty, many of them are still preserved with its bright colours.