Abu Simbel Temples

Abu Simbel Temples are a magnificent and historic site located in the village of Abu Simbel, Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt. This site is home to two massive rock-cut temples that were originally carved out of the mountainside during the 19th Dynasty reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II.

The Great Temple, dedicated to Ramesses II himself, features impressive external rock relief figures of the pharaoh and his wife Nefertari. Inside the temple, there are also sculptures that commemorate Ramesses II's heroic leadership at the Battle of Kadesh. The smaller temple, dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of love and beauty, and Nefertari, Ramesses II's favorite wife, is located about 100 meters northeast of the Great Temple. Its facade features two colossal statues of the king and queen standing side-by-side, both depicted at nearly equal height, a rarity in Egyptian art where the pharaoh typically towered over his consort. The interior walls are adorned with scenes depicting Nefertari being presented to various deities and illustrations of her role in Egyptian religion.

The construction of these temples began around 1264 BC and took approximately twenty years to complete. However, over time they fell into disuse and were eventually covered by sand dunes until their rediscovery in 1813 by Swiss researcher Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

In order to save these temples from being submerged under Lake Nasser due to a dam construction project in 1968, an international campaign was launched with a budget of $40 million. Under UNESCO's supervision, a team consisting of archaeologists, engineers, and skilled heavy equipment operators worked together for four years to relocate these ancient structures higher up on an artificial hill.

Today, visitors can witness this incredible feat while exploring both temples which showcase intricate carvings depicting scenes from Egyptian mythology as well as everyday life during that time period. The Small Temple also has unique Hathoric columns decorated with reliefs showing Queen Nefertari playing music for various gods.


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