The Abu Simbel temples are one of the most famous places in Egypt after the Giza pyramids, and it is located south of Aswan on the shores of Lake Nasser. Built by the greatest pharaoh, Ramesses II, who also called them the Temple of Ramesses II or Ramesses II, these massive rock-cut temples marked the Egyptian Empire’s southern border with Nubia when the New Kingdom was at the height of its power.
It was meant to show the power of the rulers of Egypt to anyone who saw them. The four statues at the entrance to the largest of these temples are the largest still in existence since the time of the pharaohs.
Where to find the temples of Abu Simbel?
The Abu Simbel temples are in Abu Simbel, a small village in Aswan, Upper Egypt, on the western shore of Lake Nasser. It is close to the border with Sudan and not far from the border with Sudan.
Why were the temples of Abu Simbel built?
The twin temples were built to honour the king and his queen Nefertari and to remember his victory in the Battle of Kadesh.
The Abu Simbel temples were forgotten for a while, but in 1813, Swiss explorer John Louis Burckhardt found them again. The temples were long forgotten, and the sands of the desert covered everything but the tops of the heads of the statues that stood before their entrances.
Since the sands were finally removed in 1909, these twin temples have become the most famous place in southern Egypt.
The temples were moved from Abu Simbel:
The construction of the Aswan High Dam caused the Nile to rise, putting the twin temples of Abu Simbel in danger. The ancient temples at Abu Simbel had to be moved further from the Nile path so that the water would not destroy them.
The temples at Abu Simbel were dismantled in 1968 and moved to a desert plateau 64 meters high and 180 meters west of where they once stood. Moving the temples was not a feat but a monumental task. The temples had to be cut into pieces weighing between 3 and 20 tons and then put back together precisely as they were in the new location. This move took nearly five years to complete.
What are Abu Simbel temples like?
Two temples can be found. The first is called the “Great Temple” and was built for Ramesses II. The second is called the “Little Temple” and was built for his wife, Queen Nefertari.
The Great Temple:
It took about twenty years to build the Great Temple of Abu Simbel. It was also called the Temple of Ramses II and was created to honour the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhti and Ptah, and the great King Ramses. It is believed by most people to be the grandest and most beautiful of the temples built by Ramesses II and one of the best temples in Egypt.
On either side of the entrance to the Great Temple are four 20-meter statues of Ramesses II seated on a throne. These statues are called “Cyclops”. On the main temple’s facade, hieroglyphic writings show the great victory of Ramesses II in the Battle of Cadiz.
As you enter the Great Temple, you will see several rooms dedicated to Ramesses and other important people in his family. The holy of holies, the last room, is always dark except for two days a year. This didn’t just happen by accident; it took a lot of science, mathematics, architecture and astronomy knowledge to get here.
Small temple:
The second temple of the goddess Hathor. Although much smaller than the first, it was built in honour of Nefertari, Ramses’ favourite wife. She has the same power as the pharaoh, and the Temple of Hathor and Nefertari is another name for it.
A large gateway separates the two groups of statues on the rock-cut temple facade.
Alignment of the sun with the Abu Simbel temple:
The enormous temple faces the sun. Twice a year, when the sun is at its lowest point, it shines on a statue of Ramesses and the deities for whom the temple stood.
The ancient builders placed the temple where the room would be exposed to sunlight on his birthday, October 22, and on the day he assumed the throne, February 22. On these two dates, the sun rises and lights three of the four statues in the sanctum and the temple aisle. The first three statues of the Egyptian king Ramesses II, the sun god Ra, and the god Ammon (king of the gods). Like the rest of the pharaohs, Ramesses was considered a god because he felt himself a deity. The fourth statue is still a mystery, as it resembles the god of darkness, Ptah. More than 3,200 years ago, this statue had never seen the sun before.
What is the Sun Festival in Abu Simbel?
In the temples of Abu Simbel, twice a year, people worldwide celebrate the ancient Egyptians and all they did. The temple’s central room is illuminated by the sun, which is why the event is called the Sun Festival.
What is the date of the Sun Festival in Abu Simbel?
Every year on February 22 and October 22, thousands gather early for the Abu Simbel Sun Festival. This is a sign of how clever and skilful the ancient Egyptians were that they could arrange the temple perfectly.
How do I get to Abu Simbel temples?
The temples are about three hours south of Aswan by car, but most tourists travel to Abu Simbel. From Aswan, the flight is only 30 minutes, and there are two flights a day, giving tourists about two hours to see the temples.
Lake Nasser cruise is another way to reach Abu Simbel. These ships stop right in front of the temples so that passengers can see the temples at night and early in the morning.
