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Abu Simbel
This archaeological site is located on the west bank of Lake Nasser, about 290 km southwest of Aswan. It is one of the Nubian Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which extends from Abu Simbel to Philae (near Aswan).
The twin temples were originally carved into the mountainside during the reign of King Ramses II in the 13th century BC as a lasting monument to himself and Queen Nefertari, commemorating his victory at the Battle of Kadesh. However, in 1960, the entire complex was relocated to an artificial hill formed by the dome structure, above the reservoir of the Aswan High Dam.
Relocating the temples was necessary to prevent them from being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, the massive artificial reservoir formed after the construction of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River. Abu Simbel remains one of Egypt’s top tourist attractions.
Construction of the temple complex began around 1244 BC and continued for approximately 21 years, until 1223 BC. Known as the “Temple of Ramses,” beloved by Amun, it is one of six rock-cut temples in Nubia erected during the reign of Ramses II. Their purpose was to project an image to neighboring states south of Egypt and to reinforce the position of Egyptian religion in the region. Historians say that the design of Abu Simbel reflects Ramses II’s pride. This Abu Simbel is distinct from the relocated Abu Simbel, which is an extension of the tourist site but located about 366 kilometers south of Aswan.
Over time, the temples fell into disuse and were eventually buried by sand. By the 6th century BC, the statues in the main temple were knee-deep in sand. The temple remained forgotten until 1813 when the Swiss explorer J.L. Burckhardt discovered the cornice of the main temple. Burckhardt shared this discovery with his Italian counterpart, the explorer Giovanni Belzoni, and they traveled together to the site, but were unable to excavate an entrance. Belzoni returned in 1817 and this time succeeded in his attempt to enter the temple. The complex.
He took everything of value he could carry with him. Tour guides at the site relate the legend of Abu Simbel to a young local boy who led explorers back to the site of the buried temple, which he had glimpsed from time to time in the shifting sands. Eventually, the temple was named Abu Simbel after him.
An international fundraising campaign to save the monument began in 1959: the ancient southern monuments of this civilization were threatened by the rising waters of the Nile River, which were about to be created by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
The rescue of the Abu Simbel temples began in 1964 and cost $40 million. Between 1964 and 1968, the entire site was cut into large blocks (up to 30 tons and averaging 20 tons), dismantled, and reassembled at a new site 65 meters and 200 meters higher than the river level. It is considered by many to be one of the greatest feats of engineering. In archaeological engineering.
Some structures were rescued from beneath the waters of Lake Nasser. Today, thousands of tourists visit the temples daily. Convoys of buses and escorted cars depart twice a day from Aswan, the nearest city. Many visitors arrive by plane at the airport built specifically for the temple complex.
The complex consists of two temples. The larger one is dedicated to three of the major Egyptian deities of
Ra-Horakhty, Ptah, and Amun. Its facade features four colossal statues of Ramses II. The smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor, personified by Nefertari, Ramses’s most beloved wife (the pharaoh had a total of 200 wives and concubines). [citation needed] The temple is now open to the public.
The Great Temple at Abu Simbel took nearly 20 years to build and was completed around the 24th year of Ramses the Great’s reign (corresponding to 1265 BC). It was dedicated to the god Amun, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah, as well as Ramses
It is generally considered the most magnificent and beautiful temple commissioned during the reign of Ramses II, and one of the most beautiful in Egypt.
Four colossal statues of the pharaoh, each 20 meters tall, wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, adorn the temple’s facade, which is 35 meters wide and crowned with a cornice featuring 22 baboons. Sun worshippers surround the entrance.
The colossal statues were carved directly from the rock where the temple originally stood before its relocation. All the statues depict Ramses II seated on his throne, wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.
The statue to the left of the entrance was damaged in an earthquake, leaving only the lower part intact. The head and torso can be seen beneath the statue’s feet.
Beside the legs of the colossal statue are other statues of the pharaoh, no taller than the knees.
These depict Ramses’ chief wife, Nefertari, and his mother, Queen Mutai. He had two sons, Amun-her-khepshef and Ramses. Six daughters: Bentanath, Baketmut, Nefertari, Meritamen, Nebetawy, and Astenouferet.
The entrance itself is crowned with a low relief depicting two images of the king worshipping the falcon-headed god Harakhty, whose statue stands in a large niche. This god holds in his right hand a hieroglyphic necklace (the ancient Egyptian script used) and a quill, while in his left he holds Maat, the goddess of truth and justice. This is no less than a flowering plant, the symbol of the giant Ramses II, and the throne name used is Maat-Re.
At the top of the building’s facade is a row of 22 baboons with their arms raised in the air, presumably worshipping the rising sun. Another prominent feature of the facade is a stela recording the marriage of Ramses to the daughter of King Hattusili III, which led to peace between Egypt and the Hittites.
The interior of the temple follows the same tripartite layout common to most ancient Egyptian temples, with the rooms decreasing in size from the temple entrance. The temple is a very complex and unusual structure.
