Helwan (1909 – 1913)

View of the Nile near Helwan

Photo June 22, 2012:

Lesja Ukrainka first came to Helwan together with K. V. Kvitka on November 16 (29), 1909. During this visit she lived in several places: first in the boarding house "Continental", then in the boarding house "Antonio", then again in "Continental", and from April 1 (14), 1910 – at the villa "Tewfik". We don’t know where are these buildings.

This season Lesja Ukrainka worked creatively, translated lyrical songs of ancient Egypt, finished a dramatic poem "In the forest", wrote a series of poems "Spring in Egypt", dramatic poem "Boyarinya».

April 30 (May 13) 1910 Lesja Ukrainka left Egypt for Odessa and further to Kyiv.

Lesia Ukrainka came to Helwan for the second time on January 24 (February 6), 1911, and stayed at the "Continental" villa, and in the first half of February she moved to the "Tewfik" Villa.

This season she wrote poetry "On the anniversary".

On April 12 (25), 1911, Lesja Ukrainka left Helwan for Odessa and further to Kyiv.

Lesja Ukrainka arrived in Helwan for the third time on November 4 (17), 1912 and lived in the "Tewfik" villa.

This season Lesja Ukrainka wrote poems "Orpheus miracle», «About the giant", finished a dramatic poem"Orgy».

On April 18 (May 1), 1913, she left Helwan for Odessa and further to Kyiv.

Helwan lies on the right (eastern) bank of the Nile, 20 km south of Cairo, here even the Cairo metro reaches. The ruins of Memphis (the ancient capital of Egypt) are on the left bank of the Nile 3 km to the west, and the Pyramid of Djoser – 8 km northwest of the coast in Helwan.