What is…
Syene

also known as: Swenett, Aswan, Assuan, Assouan, Συήνη, and Dib

Hebrew: סְוֵנֵה

This is an ancient town of Egypt, on the borders of Ethiopia, on the east bank of the Nile. It is now called Aswan and is located in modern Egypt.

It was the frontier town of Egypt in the south, as Migdol was in the northeast.

Syene was idolatrous.

It is mentioned in the following Scripture verses.

“The land of Egypt will become a desolation and waste.
Then they will know that I am the Lord.
Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine, and I have made it,’ therefore, behold, I am against you and against your canals of the Nile, and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from Migdol to Syene and even to the border of Ethiopia. —Ezekiel 29:9-10

‘Thus says Yahweh,
“Indeed, those who support Egypt will fall,
And the pride of her strength will come down;
From Migdol to Syene
They will fall within her by the sword,”
Declares Lord Yahweh. —Ezekiel 30:6 LSB

Location of ancient Syene, Egypt (now known as Aswan) on the Nile —satellite view (Google Map)

Great Sphinx of Tanis (aka Zoan) sculpted in rose granite

Syene was notable for its quarries of beautiful red granite called “syenite,” now known as “red Aswan granite” or “rose granite.” It was widely used by the pharaohs. Their stoneworkers created colossal statues, obelisks, and monolithic shrines that are found throughout Egypt, including the pyramids. The King’s Chamber and Queen’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid of Giza are lined with red granite and black granite. The Karnak Temple with its 134 columns, has many made of red granite.

Traces of the quarrymen who worked alongside domesticated draft animals in the Syene quarries 3,000 years ago are still visible in the native rock. They lie on both banks of the Nile, and a road, 4 miles (6.5 km) long, was cut beside them from Syene to the nearby Philae temple complex.

Numerous archaeological finds have been made in this area. In July 2024, a joint Egyptian–French archaeological expedition conducting an underwater photographic survey between the old Aswan Dam and the Aswan High Dam uncovered a trove of rock carvings, stelae, inscriptions, and miniature royal images submerged in the Nile near Aswan. The discoveries include representations of New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III and Thutmose IV and Late Period rulers Psamtik II and Apries. Initial research suggests these finds, dating back to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1550–1295 BC) through the Late Period (c. 747–332 BC), may shed new light on shifting political and religious practices in southern Egypt.

The voyage from Syene (Aswan) to Alexandria usually took 21 to 28 days in favorable weather.

To the south of Aswan is Lake Nasser reservoir which was created by the Aswan High Dam on the Nile. Nasser is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, and has a length of 340 miles (550 km).