An inscription detailing the journey on Sehel Island

An inscription detailing the journey on Sehel Island

The arid valleys of the eastern Egyptian desert were ancient quarry routes and important thoroughfares for visitors to the ancient land of Pune. The main focus was on the worship of the mythical gods Isis and Horus and this region was a vital stronghold for gold and quartzite in the past. Ancient routes connected the city of Qift on the Nile River with the city of Quseir on the Red Sea coast in the eastern desert of Egypt. Ballast carvings on the natural granite cliffs of Wadi Hammamat depict cartouches oval frames surrounding the names of ancient Egyptian kings. Ancient Egyptians believed these ovals acted as a magical barrier protecting the pharaoh's name from evil spirits and danger. 

Sehel Island near Aswana Egypt features granite carvings and inscriptions depicting worship of gods or historical records from the Nile River region.

Hieroglyphic inscriptions are also found on the dark brown and gray rock walls indicating an area of ​​ancient quarrying and important routes to Aswan for the granite needed for the empire's architecture. Inscriptions and evidence of thanksgiving offerings were discovered after voyages to procure granite necessary for imperial architecture. On over 200 granite blocks on the Sehel Island the inscriptions mention the ancient Egyptian and Nubian goddess Anuket or Anukis known as "Lord of the Sehel" who oversaw the rivers and rapids of the Nile and provided the annual floods that fertile the land of Egypt. She was one of the three Elephantine deities along with Khnum and Satet.

The cliff face is carved with rectangular tablet-like inscriptions depicting gods or pharaohs in seated or standing positions holding offerings wearing atef crowns high Egyptian crowns and holding ancient Egyptian symbols. The carvings and inscriptions in this area date from the Old Kingdom to the Roman period encompassing the reigns of Djoser and Imhotep reflecting past exploration and quarrying activity. Smaller figures or servants such as fan bearers stand before cartouches. An oval-shaped frame with the name of a pharaoh inscribed from the Old Kingdom era used for prayers to ensure a safe journey through the rapids of the Nile River.