 the abu simbel temples are two massive rock temples in abu simbel ( in arabic), a small village in nubia, southern egypt, near the border with sudan. they are situated on the western bank of lake nasser, about 230&nbsp;km southwest of aswan (about 300&nbsp;km by road). the complex is part of the unesco world heritage site known as the "nubian monuments,"nubian monuments from abu simbel to philae - unesco world heritage centre which run from abu simbel downriver to philae (near aswan). the twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of pharaoh ramesses&nbsp;ii in the 13th century&nbsp;bc, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen nefertari, to commemorate his alleged victory at the battle of kadesh. however, the complex was relocated in its entirety in 1968, on an artificial hill made from a domed structure, high above the aswan high dam reservoir. the relocation of the temples was necessary to avoid their being submerged during the creation of lake nasser, the massive artificial water reservoir formed after the building of the aswan high dam on the nile river. ==history== === construction === construction of the temple complex started in approximately 1264 bc and lasted for about 20 years, until 1244 bc. known as the "temple of ramesses, beloved by amun" it was one of six rock temples erected in nubia during the long reign of ramesses&nbsp;ii. their purpose was to impress egypt's southern neighbours, and
13th-century_BC_architecture Archaeological_sites_in_Egypt Colossal_statues Egyptian_temples Lake_Nasser Monuments_and_memorials_in_Egypt Nefertari Open_air_museums_in_Egypt Ramesses_II Relocated_ancient_Egyptian_monuments World_Heritage_Sites_in_Egypt