Abu Simbel
The
Great Temple of Abu Simbel, in Nubia near Egypt’s southern border, is among the
most awe-inspiring monuments of Egypt. It was cut into the living rock by King
Ramses II (the Great) of the Nineteenth Dynasty, around 1264 BC. The temple is
most well-known for the four imposing seated colossal statues that dominate its
façade. One of these collapsed because of an ancient earthquake, and its
fragments can still be seen on the ground.
Colossal standing statues of the king
line the main hall, leading to the sanctuary where four deities are sat:
Amun‑Ra, Ra‑Hor Akhty, Ptah, and a deified version of Ramses II. The temple was
built with such precision that on two days a year, the 22nd of February and
22nd of October, the sun’s rays enter the temple, cross the main hall, and
illuminate the innermost statues. These dates are thought to correspond to the
coronation and birthday of Ramses II.
Another rock-cut temple to the north,
known as the Small Temple, is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Ramses II’s
Great Royal Wife, Queen Nefertari. On the façade of the Small Temple, her
colossi are the same size as those of her husband, a very rare example of such
display.
The two temples were moved from
their original location in 1968 after the Aswan High Dam was built, which
threatened to submerge them. The relocation was completed thanks to an
international effort led by UNESCO, and the temple was admitted into the list
of World Heritage Sites in 1979.
