Aswan Dam Collection

Barrage d'Assouan; Le Nord-Est Africain, 1914. Creator: Unknown
Barrage d'Assouan; Le Nord-Est Africain, 1914. From "Grande Geographie Bong Illustree", 1914

Aswan Dam, under construction, April 1901 (b / w photo)
5998025 Aswan Dam, under construction, April 1901 (b/w photo) by George, D.S. (fl.1900); Private Collection; (add.info.: Aswan Dam, under construction, April 1901)

Sir Benjamin Baker, British civil engineer (b / w photo)
5995810 Sir Benjamin Baker, British civil engineer (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sir Benjamin Baker (1840-1907), British civil engineer

The dam across the Nile, the building of the Aswan Dam, Egypt, 1853

Berberin boatmen, flooded isle of Philae, Egypt, c1922. Artist: Donald McLeish
Berberin boatmen, flooded isle of Philae, Egypt, c1922. The island and its ruins were regularly flooded after the construction of the Aswan Low Dam in 1902

The Aswan dam as seen from the Philae temple, Egypt, 1905. Artist: Underwood & Underwood
The Aswan dam as seen from the Philae temple, Egypt, 1905. Stereoscopic card. Detail. From a series called Egypt Through the Stereoscope, text by James H Breasted

Aswan Dam, Egypt, 20th century. In the late 19th century, the growth of population and agricultural production in the lower Nile Valley led to the decision to build a dam across the river at Aswan

Benjamin Baker (1840-1907), British civil engineer, c1896
Sir Benjamin Baker (1840-1907), British civil engineer, c1896. His best-known projects include the Forth Railway Bridge and the first Aswan Dam across the Nile in Egypt

Sir John Aird, 1st Baronet, 1833 - 1911. English civil engineering contractor and a Conservative Member of Parliament. From The Business Encyclopaedia and Legal Adviser, published 1907

EGYPT: PHILAE TEMPLE. Philae, the Pearl of Egypt, now submerged by waters stored by Assuan Dam, Egypt. Stereograph, c1910

Aswan Egypt, Interior of Aswan Dam Train Station

Aswan Dam, Aswan, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

The Aswan Dam, under construction in April 1901, was a monumental feat of engineering. Led by the brilliant British civil engineer Sir Benjamin Baker, this black and white photo captures the magnitude of the project. In another captivating image, we see a smoking man at Abu Simbel Temple in Egypt. This snapshot from 1923 reminds us of the rich history surrounding the area where the dam would be built. Dating back to 1853, an old photograph showcases the early stages of building The dam across the Nile, and is fascinating to witness how this structure evolved over time. Berberin boatmen are depicted on a flooded isle of Philae in Egypt around 1922 by artist Donald McLeish. Their presence serves as a reminder that human life and culture were deeply impacted by this ambitious endeavor. An artistic rendering from Underwood & Underwood shows us how the Aswan Dam appeared from Philae temple in Egypt during 1905. The juxtaposition between ancient ruins and modern infrastructure is striking. Moving into the twentieth century, we can observe various images capturing different aspects of this grand project. From portraits like Benjamin Baker's taken around 1890 or Sir John Aird's published in 1907 to photographs showcasing its impact on Egyptian landmarks such as Philae Temple - now submerged beneath waters stored by Assuan Dam. The Aswan Dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity and determination throughout history. Its construction forever changed not only Egypt but also our understanding of what can be achieved through engineering marvels like these.