Shifting the temple Abu Simbel survived antiquity only to be challenged by contemporary progress. The temples were relocated because the site was about to be swamped by the rising Nile. It was believed that if the temples were not moved, they would be destroyed. Abu Simbel is a large rock formation in northern Egypt made up of two huge statues carved into the side of a mountain. The statues, which are thought to depict the Egyptian gods Horus and Isis, were originally built as part of a larger temple for the goddesses. The original structure was constructed around 700 AD near what is now known as Lulua. This area was once inhabited by humans and many artifacts have been found here dating back more than 10,000 years. The location where the statues now stand was once under water. In 1816, Alexander the Great invaded Egypt and used forced labor to build his army's camps. When the campaign was over, he returned all the slaves to their home countries. This is why there are workers from so many different countries at the temple today - to repair it. They are using modern tools and techniques to restore the statues to their original glory. The project to move the statues began in January 2016 and is expected to take three years to complete.