Overview:

are two massively rock-cut Ancient Egyptian temples located on the western bank of the Nile, near the border with Sudan. Dating from the 13th century BC, they are considered some of the most great monuments of Ancient Egypt's New Kingdom. Both temples were meant to commemorate the reigns of Pharaohs Ramses II and Nefertari. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt
Prominent Features:

The Abu Simbel temples in Aswan, Egypt, are two massive rock-cut temples that were built by Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC as a lasting monument to himself and his queen, Nefertari. Both temples feature large, carved statues of Ramses II and both have a long and fascinating history. The Great Temple, also known as the Temple of Ramses II, is dedicated to the four major gods of the time - Amun, Ptah, Re-Horakhty and Ramses II himself – and is the more remarkable of the two. Its facade has four huge seated figures of Ramses II, each about 20m (65ft) high, that have been carefully cut out of the rock and decorated with inscriptions and hieroglyphic texts. Nearby, the smaller Temple of Hathor is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and decorated with images of Ramses and Nefertari making offerings to the gods. The temples were moved in the 1960s to avoid the rising waters of Lake Nasser, and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most iconic monuments in Egypt. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Egypt.

History:

The Abu Simbel temples in Aswan, Egypt, date to about 1245 BCE, and were built by the Pharaoh Ramses II of the 19th Dynasty. The two temples were built in order to commemorate his reign and his marriage to Queen Nefertari. The larger temple was dedicated to Ramesses himself, while the smaller temple was dedicated to his chief wife. The two temples are located on the western bank of the Nile, about 200 miles south of Cairo. They are carved out of the hillside and consist of four massive statues of Ramesses, worshipping the gods Ra and Amun-Re. Within the front hall of the larger temple are wall reliefs depicting the Pharaoh’s victory at the Battle of Kadesh. The temples were abandoned over time and eventually covered in sand. They were rediscovered in the 19th century by a Swiss explorer and later declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the 1960s, the temples were moved, brick-by-brick, to a new location about 200 meters away from the original site in order to save them from the rising waters of the Nile caused by the newly built Aswan Dam. The temples are now one of the most iconic sites in Egypt, and a major tourist attraction. Visit one of the famous monuments of Egypt with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Abu Simbel Temples were built around 1250 BCE, during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II. 2. The two temples were carved directly out of the side of a sandstone cliff and face due east, with the entrance typically illuminated by the sun’s rays at dawn on the two annual days of the pharaoh’s birth and coronation. 3. Located in southern Egypt near the border with Sudan, the Abu Simbel Temples were relocated in the 1960s to avoid the rising waters of Lake Nasser, which was created when the Aswan High Dam was built. 4. Twelve of the temple’s columns are adorned with colossal statues of pharaoh Ramesses II, all of which are over thirty feet tall. 5. The larger temple, dedicated to Ramesses and the gods Amon and Ptah, has a small crypt in the back where the pharaoh’s mummy and other burial objects were buried. 6. The second temple was built for Queen Nefertari, his consort, and was dedicated to Hathor. 7. Inside the temple, there is a chapel that is painted with scenes of Ramesses’ military conquests. 8. In May 1964, UNESCO conducted a campaign to raise money and save the temples from flooding. This campaign mobilized over 60 countries and raised the $40 million needed to save the temples from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. 9. The temples were moved over 65 meters up and 210 meters into the hillside, in an operation that took four years to complete. 10.In 2006, the temples were added to the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. One of the historical monuments of Egypt, it tells the story of a bygone era