Abu Simbel temples are considered one of the greatest temples in the world. They are an architectural masterpiece carved into the rock of the mountain. The specialists believe that what King Ramses II and his engineers did can be considered a great challenge at that time.
These temples are located 280 km south of Aswan. They were built to announce the victory of King Ramses II in the Battle of Kadesh. These temples were discovered in 1812 by the Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt.
The first temple is dedicated to King Ramses II as a god and gods Ra-Hor-Akhty, Amun, and Ptah. The length of the facade of the temple is 35 meters and its height is 30 meters, where there are 4 giant statues of King Ramses II, with a height of 20 meters. These statues represent the king sitting on the throne wearing the double crown. Around his leg, there are statues of his wives and children. Also, there are above the entrance there is a statue of the god Ra-Hor-Akhty.
When you enter the temple, you will find the hypostyle housing statues taking the Osiris form
. The walls are decorated with scenes of the battle of Kadesh and making offerings to the gods. Then at the end of the temples, you will find the Holy of Holies containing 4 statues of Ra-Hor-Akhty, Amun Ra, Ptah, and King Ramses II as a god.
The temple of King Ramses II is distinguished with a great phenomenon as the sun illuminating the Holy of Holies twice a year, once on 22 February and the other on 22 October. The sun lights up the statues of Ramses II, the god Ra -Hor-Akhty, and the god Amun, except the statue of the god Ptah because he was the god of the darkness.
As for the small temple. It is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari, the beloved wife of King Ramses II. It is located 120 meters north of the Great Temple. It is also carved into the rock of the mountain with a facade of 28 meters long, 12 meters wide, and contains 6 giant statues 11 meters high. These statues are 4 of them for King Ramses II and 2 for Queen Nefertari.
It leads to a hypostyle with 6 columns taking Hathor form. This hall is decorated with scenes of the king and queen making offerings to the gods. Then another entrance leads to a hall, also decorated with scenes of the king and queen making offerings to the gods. Then this hall leads to the Holy of Holies containing a statue of the goddess Hathor.
These great temples were threatened with drowning after the construction of the High Dam. Fortunately, UNESCO with the help of Egypt and the countries of the world saved them. The temples were cut into pieces and moved to a site 200 meters away and 65 meters high. Then they were reconstructed. The rescue operation took 4 years from 1964 to 1968.
you can visit Abu Simbel temples with Explore the Land of Pharaohs
