Assouan'

Assouan' (also Eswan; the ancient Syne) is the southernmost city of Egypt proper, on the right bank of the Nile, and beside the first or lowest cataract. Near are the islands of Philæ and Elephantine. On the left bank are catacombs. There are some remains of the ancient city. Near by are the famous quarries of granite, hence called Syenite (q.v.), from which so many of the huge obelisks and colossal statues were cut to adorn the temples and palaces of ancient Egypt. Pop. 4000. A great irrigation dam was begun here in 1899. See EGYPT, NILE.