Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae

country. Egypt

year of inscription. 1979 

criteria. Cultural

The Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae WHS is located in the governorate of Aswan. It comprises monuments from the Nubian civilisation, which was closely intertwined with ancient Egyptian civilisation. These monuments include places of worship such as the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel and the Sanctuary of Isis at Philae.

In 1954, Egypt firmed up plans to build a new dam across the Nile at Aswan. Known as the Aswan High Dam, construction was to begin in 1960, and the resultant reservoir formed would submerge many Nubian monuments constructed in the locale, Hence, in 1959, Egypt and Sudan requested for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to help them save the monuments. In 1960, UNESCO launched an international fundraising project in support of these efforts. With the aid of an international team, many of the monuments were relocated to higher grounds, safe from the flood waters. The campaign ended in 1980 and was declared a success. The success of this campaign inspired others, for saving sites such as Venice and its lagoons in Italy, the Moenjodaro in Pakistan, and the Borobudur in Indonesia.

Consequently, between 1965 and 1972, the UNESCO, working together with other heritage convention proposals by the International Convention on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the United States government, drafted a convention to protect cultural and natural heritage in other parts of the world; it was signed in 1972 and effected in 1975. In 1978, the first twelve World Heritage Sites were inscribed.

what. stamps (Indonesia, 1964)

what. stamps (Laos, 1964)

what. stamps (Pakistan, 1964)