Esna

The Egyptian of Esna , known city during the Antiquity under the names of Lunyt , Your-senet then Latopolis (Greek: Λατωπολις), is located on western bank of the the Nile, to approximately 55 km in the south of the town of Louxor.

The Greek name of the city, Latopolis, was given in honor to the pole of the Nile, Lates niloticus , an abundant fish in this area at the time.

Two bridges act as stopping in Esna: one built by England in 1906 and the “Electricity Bridge” built by Italy with the beginning of the year 1990. Many ferries sails on the Nile at this place, and one can cross tourists who borrow the river to go from Louxor to Assouan, and who pass in front of Esna during their 155 km of voyage. The river traffic is very slowed down, since the various boats must dispute, and to negotiate, the passage of the few meters of width of the lock.

The two principal tourist elements of Esna are the Souk, which fill two whole streets, and the temple of Khnoum, dating from the ptolémaïque time. The construction of this temple began under Ptolémée {{VIII}} and finished during the Roman domination, under the command of Claude then of Marc-Aurèle. The temple, still partly buried, is located on a ground 10 m lower than the remainder of the city.

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