The Grand Temples of Abu Simbel - Aswan The captial of Egypt and the largest city in Africa, the name means "the victorious city". As the region's principal commercial, administrative, and tourist centre. Alexandria Egypt's second largest city (3.5 million people), its largest seaport and the country's window onto the Mediterranean Sea. No city in Egypt has history as rich as that of Alexandria which witnessed so many historic events and legends! Luxor Luxor hosts one third of the whole monuments and antiquities of the world. Therefore, it is considered one of the most important tourism spots in Egypt and maybe in the whole world. Aswan Aswan is the 3rd largest city in Egypt and the biggest in Upper Egypt. Aswan was the ancient Egyptians' gateway to Africa. Today Aswan is major stop for may Nile cruise ships depart from Luxor to Aswan everyday. Sharm Elsheikh Sharm is the the jewel of Egyptian tourism industry now. The city offer some of the finest places for diving and snorkeling in the world, it offers great value for money if compared with many diving spots in the world.

Hurhgada Hurghada today is a world centre for sea sports such as diving, snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing, and deep-sea fishing. The unique offshore underwater gardens are justifiably famous amongst divers Egypt Info Temples of Abu Simbel The Temples of Abu Simbel are amongst the most interesting of all anicent Egyptian temples. Located close to the southern border with the Sudan, it is 280 km south of Aswan and consists of two rock-cut Temples which both date back to the reign of King Ramses II (1290-1223 BC). Unfortunately these unique Temples suffered from the raising water of Lake Nasser while the High Dam was being built. Other countries, with the help of UNESCO, assisted Egypt to help save them. The two Temples were cut in to many pieces, and then they were reconstructed again on a site 65m higher than the original location, and 200m back inland, to escape the rising water level. This great rescue operation began in June 1964 and finished in September 1968.

The first Temple was built by King Ramses II and is dedicated to the God Re-Hor-Akhty, Amon, Ptah, and King Ramses II as a deified King. Its façade is 35m long and 30m high.The façade has four seated colossi of the King; each one is 20m tall and represents the King seated on his throne wearing the double crown,accompanied by 3 small figures of his wives, daughters and sons flanking his legs. Above the entrance stands the figure of Re-Hor-Akhty, while near to the summit of the façade there are number of baboons. Inside the Temple there is a hall, supported by Osirid shaped pillars which were cut into the rock, with walls that are decorated by battle and offering scenes. There are some side rooms leading from the hall, which are also decorated with various scenes. At the far end of the Temple is the sanctuary, which contains four statues; Re-Hor-Akhty, Amon-Re, Ptah and the deified Ramses II.

The Temple of Nefertari The Temple of Queen Nefertari is located 120 m north of the Temple of Ramses II and was also built by Ramses II, dedicated to the Goddess Hathor and to his wife Queen Nefertari. Queen Nefertari was the principal, and the most beloved, wife of King Ramses II. It is also a rock-cut Temple with a façade of about 28 m long and 12 m high, which contains 6 standing colossi, each one being about 11m in height. Four of them represent Ramses II and the other two represent Queen Nefertari, each is accompanied by two smaller figures of their children. The entrance leads to a square hall, which is supported by 6 Hathor-headed pillars decorated with scenes depicting the King and the Queen making offerings to different deities. At the end of the hall there is a doorway leading to a transverse vestibule decorated with scenes of King Ramses II making offering to Re-HorAkhty, while the Queen is presenting flowers to Khenum, Sat-tet and Anket.

The Transverse Hall leads to the Sanctuary, which contains a niche in the rear wall with a statue of Goddess Hathor, as a cow, protecting Ramses II. All Other Temples of Egypt Abu Simbel: the great temple of Egypt - Lonely Planet Abu Simbel: the great temple of Egypt Tips & articles Anthony Sattin Lonely Planet Writer In his day, Ramses II built entire cities in Egypt , but nothing would have been as awe-inspiring as the Great Temple which was stumbled across in the depths of the Egyptian desert near the border of Nubia, buried under centuries of sand. No temple has such ancient, in-built heart and soul, and none have matched its passionate, modern-day story of discovery and rescue. The Great Temple was first carved out of the mountain on the west bank of the Nile between 1274 and 1244 BC, Ramses II’s imposing temple was as much dedicated to the deified pharaoh himself as to the primeval Egyptian gods Ra-Horakhty, Amun and Ptah.

Over the centuries both the Nile and the desert sands imperceptibly shifted, and this temple was lost to the world until 1813, when it was accidentally rediscovered by the Swiss explorer Jean-Louis Burckhardt. The four colossal statues of the pharaoh fronting the temple were like gigantic sentinels watching over the incoming traffic from the south, undoubtedly designed as a warning to the strength of the pharaoh. When the temple was discovered, nearly 200 years ago, only one of the heads was completely showing above the sand, the next head was broken off and, of the remaining two, only the crowns could be seen. Enough sand was cleared away in 1817 by Giovanni Belzoni for the temple to be entered. However, by the end of the century, plans were afoot to dam the Nile and it looked as though the Great Temple was doomed to be buried again, although on this occasion its coverage was intended to be water. As the plans for the High Dam were drawn up, worldwide attention focused on the many valuable and irreplaceable ancient monuments that would be destroyed by the waters of Lake Nasser.

Between 1960 and 1980 the Unesco-sponsored Nubian Rescue Campaign gathered expertise and financing from more than 50 countries, and sent Egyptian and foreign archaeological teams to Nubia. Necropolises were excavated, all portable artefacts and relics were removed to museums and, while some temples disappeared beneath the lake, 14 were salvaged. Ten of them, including the temple complexes of Philae, Kalabsha and Abu Simbel, were dismantled stone by stone and painstakingly rebuilt on higher ground. Four others were donated to the countries that contributed to the rescue effort, including the splendid Temple of Dendur, now reconstructed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Perhaps the greatest achievement of all was the preservation of the temples at Abu Simbel.

Ancient magnificence and skill met with equally impressive modern technology as, at a cost of about $40 million, Egyptian, Italian, Swedish, German and French archaeological teams cut the temples up into more than 2000 huge blocks, weighing from 10 to 40 tonnes each, and reconstructed them inside an artificially built mountain, 210m away from the water and 65m higher than the original site. The temples were carefully oriented to face the original direction, and the landscape of their original environment was re-created on and around the concrete, dome-shaped mountain. Abu Simbel | Goway Travel Chat Abu Simbel is one of the most impressive archeological sites in all of Egypt, not only for its historical significance, but for the great engineering success in moving these temples to their present location. You will fly from Aswan to Abu Simbel. On arrival at Abu Simbel, you will be met by our local supplier, given your pre-arranged entry tickets and escorted to your waiting bus. Upon completion of your tour you will be directed to re-board the bus to the airport to join your flight to Aswan. Duration: 3 Hours The magazine for world travellers. Get your FREE subscription today.

Abu Simbel - Ancient History Encyclopedia Abu Simbel by Joshua J. Mark published on 06 January 2013 Abu Simbel is a temple complex, originally cut into a solid rock cliff, in southern Egypt and located at the second cataract of the Nile River. The two temples which comprise the site (The Great Temple and The Small Temple) were created during the reign of Ramesses II (c. 1279 - c. 1213 BCE) either between 1264 - 1244 BCE or 1244-1224 BCE. The discrepancy in the dates is due to differing interpretations of the life of Ramesses II by modern day scholars. It is certain, based upon the extensive art work throughout the interior of the Great Temple, that the structures were created, at least in part, to celebrate Ramesses' victory over the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BCE. To some scholars, this indicates a probable date of 1264 BCE for the initial construction as the victory would have been fresh in the memory of the people.

However, the decision to build the grand monument at that precise location, on the border with the conquered lands of Nubia, suggests to other scholars the later date of 1244 BCE in that it would have had to have been begun after the Nubian Campaigns Ramesses II undertook with his sons and was built as a symbol of Egypt's power. Abu Simbel was sacred to Hathor long before the temples were built there. Whichever date construction began, it is agreed that it took twenty years to create the complex and that the temples are dedicated to the gods Ra-Horakty, Ptah, and the deified Ramesses II (The Great Temple) and the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari, Ramesses' favourite wife (The Small Temple). While it is assumed that the name, `Abu Simbel', was the designation for the complex in antiquity, this is not so. Allegedly, the Swiss explorer Burckhardt was led to the site by a boy named Abu Simbel in 1813 CE and the site was then named after him.

Burckhardt, however, was unable to uncover the site, which was buried in sand up to the necks of the grand colossi and later mentioned this experience to his friend and fellow explorer Giovanni Belzoni. It was Belzoni who uncovered and first excavated (or looted) Abu Simbel in 1817 CE and it is considered likely that it was he, not Burckhardt, who was led to the site by the young boy and who named the complex after him. As with other aspects regarding Abu Simbel (such as the date it was begun), the truth of either version of the story is open to interpretation and all that is known is that the original name for the complex, if it had a specific designation, has been lost. Advertisement The Temples The Great Temple stands 98 feet (30 metres) high and 115 feet (35 metres) long with four seated colossi flanking the entrance, two to each side, depicting Ramesses II on his throne; each one 65 feet (20 metres) tall.

Beneath these giant figures are smaller statues (still larger than life-sized) depicting Ramesses' conquered enemies, the Nubians, Libyans, and Hittites. Further statues represent his family members and various protecting gods and symbols of power. Passing between the colossi, through the central entrance, the interior of the temple is decorated with engravings showing Ramesses and Nefertari paying homage to the gods. Ramesses' great victory at Kadesh (considered by modern scholars to be more of a draw than an Egyptian triumph ) is also depicted in detail across the north wall of the Hypostyle Hall. According to the scholars Oakes and Gahlin, these engravings of the events surrounding the battle, Present a lively account in both reliefs and text. Preparations for battle are being made in the Egyptian camp. Horses are harnessed or given their fodder while one solder has his wounds dressed. The king's tent is also depicted while another scene shows a council of war between Ramesses and his officers. Two Hittite spies are captured and beaten until they reveal the true whereabouts of Muwatalli, the Hittite king.

Finally, the two sides engage in battle, the Egyptians charging in neat formation while the Hittites are in confusion, chariots crashing, horses bolting and soldiers falling into the River Orontes. In the text, Ramesses takes on the whole of the Hittite army single-handed, apart from support rendered by [the god] Amun who defends him in battle and finally hands him the victory. (208). The Small Temple stands nearby at a height of 40 feet (12 metres) and 92 feet (28 metres) long. This temple is also adorned by colossi across the front facade, three on either side of the doorway, depicting Ramesses and his queen Nefertari (four statues of the king and two of the queen) at a height of 32 feet (10 metres). The prestige of the queen is apparent in that, usually, a female is represented on a much smaller scale than the Pharaoh while, at Abu Simbel, Nefertari is rendered the same size as Ramesses.

The Small Temple is also notable in that it is the second time in ancient Egyptian history that a ruler dedicated a temple to his wife (the first time being the Pharaoh Akhenaton, 1353-1336 BCE, who dedicated a temple to his queen Nefertiti ). The walls of this temple are dedicated to images of Ramesses and Nefertari making offerings to the gods and to depictions of the goddess Hathor. Advertisement A Sacred Site The location of the site was sacred to Hathor long before the temples were built there and, it is thought, was carefully chosen by Ramesses for this very reason. In both temples, Ramesses is recognized as a god among other gods and his choice of an already sacred locale would have strengthened this impression among the people. The temples are also aligned with the east so that, twice a year, on 21 February and 21 October, the sun shines directly into the sanctuary of The Great Temple to illuminate the statues of Ramesses and Amun. The dates are thought to correspond to Ramesses' birthday and coronation.

The alignment of sacred structures with the rising or setting sun, or with the position of the sun at the solstices, was common throughout the ancient world (best known at New Grange in Ireland and Maeshowe in Scotland ) but the sanctuary of The Great Temple differs from these other sites in that the statue of the god Ptah, who stands among the others, is carefully positioned so that it is never illuminated at any time. As Ptah was associated with the Egyptian underworld, his image was kept in perpetual darkness. Under Threat In the 1960's CE, the Egyptian government planned to build the Aswan High Dam on the Nile which would have submerged both temples (and also surrounding structures such as the Temple of Philae). Between 1964 and 1968 CE, a massive undertaking was carried out in which both temples were dismantled and moved 213 feet (65 metres) up onto the plateau of the cliffs they once sat below and re-built 690 feet (210 metres) to the north-west of their original location. This initiative was spearheaded by UNESCO, with a multi-national team of archaeologists, at a cost of over 40 million US dollars.

Great care was taken to orient both temples in exactly the same direction as before and a man-made mountain was erected to give the impression of the temples cut into the rock cliff. According to Oakes and Gahlin: Before the work began, a coffer dam had to be built to protect the temples from the rapidly rising water. Then the temples were sawn into blocks, taking care that the cuts were made where they would be least conspicuous when reassembled. The interior walls and ceilings were suspended from a supporting framework of reinforced concrete. When the temples were reassembled, the joins were made good by a mortar of cement and desert sand. This was done so discreetly that today it is impossible to see where the joins were made. Both temples now stand within an artificial mountain made of rubble and rock, supported by two vast domes of reinforced concrete. (207). All of the smaller statuary and stelae which surrounded the original site of the complex were also moved and placed in their corresponding locations to the temples. Among these are stelae depicting Ramesses defeating his enemies, various gods, and a stele depicting the marriage between Ramesses and the Hittite princess Naptera, which ratified the Treaty of Kadesh.

Included among these monuments is the Stele of Asha-hebsed, the foreman who organized the work force which built the complex. This stele also relates how Ramesses decided to build the complex as a lasting testament to his enduring glory and how he entrusted the work to Asha-hebsed. Today Abu Simbel is the most visited ancient site in Egypt after the Pyramids of Giza and even has its own airport to support the thousands of tourists who arrive at the site each year. Ramses II Temple in Abu Simbel - Search Ramses II Temple in Abu Simbel Ramses II Temple located in Abu Simbel is a top attraction for visitors.

Despite its great distance from Cairo and the fact visiting it from Aswan involves travelling by land from Aswan in a police convoy, it's a site not to be missed because the statues of Ramses II are some of the most awe inspiring in all of Egypt History Facts Where: Abu Simbel, near Aswan, southern Egypt When: 13th century BC History: Egotistical pharoh constructs splendid temple to impress African travellers, but it is abandoned and remained preserved in the desert until 19th century Go there for: Feats of engineering – from ancient to modern – and amazingly well preserved statues Where it’s at As one of Egypt’s most famous archaeological sites, the Ramses II Temple located in Abu Simbel is a top attraction for visitors. Despite its great distance from Cairo and the fact visiting it from Aswan involves travelling by land from Aswan in a police convoy, it’s a site not to be missed: first, because the statues of Ramses II are some of the most awe inspiring in all of Egypt, and second, to marvel at the engineering feat of moving the entire temple, block after block, to save if from the rising waters of Lake Nasser in the late 1960’s.

History Located near the Sudanese border, the Ramses II temple was designed in the 13th Century BC to strike awe into travellers coming from southern Africa, educating them to the grandeur of Egyptian culture. The four largest statues in front are Ramses II, and the smaller ones next to them are fashioned to resemble his favourite wife, Nefertari and Prince Amonherkhepshef,his son. Inside, along the 185 foot hallway, wall carvings depicting Ramses’ II achievements lead into an inner chamber illuminated twice a year by the rising sun: February 22 and October 22 in the new location (a day later than before the temple was moved). The inner sanctuary is dedicated to the three gods Ptah, Amun and Harakhty whose faces are illuminated by the sun’s rays. Ramses II’s reign was dominated by this construction, and the entire country is dotted with his temples and tombs dedicated to his family, his achievements, and most importantly, himself. The largest cluster of these are in the Ramasseum in Luxor containing Ramses’ funerary templeand Queen Nefertari’s tomb, one of the most beautifully painted in the entire country.

The temple a t Abu Simbel was worshipped in during Ramses II’s reign, but eventually it was abandoned and over time the sands of the desert buried the temple which became completely forgotten by the people who lived in the region. In 1813 it was uncovered by a Swiss explorer who came across one of the heads of Ramses II statues rising out of the sand. It took four years before enough sand was removed and the temple could be explored and documented. Visiting Ramses II today When visiting the temple today, travellers can choose to stay in Aswan and visit on a day trip, or stay in the town Abu Simbel itself. Group tours tend to stay in Aswan and only spend a few hours at the temples before heading back before nightfall. Staying in Abu Simbel might be a better option if you plan to explore the temple and Lake Nasser, which has transformed Egypt’s agricultural production since being formed by the High Dam in 1971. Accommodation quality isn’t great and doesn’t come cheap here but it is a small price to pay to explore this exciting and remote part of Egypt.

MORE INFORMATION Abu Simbel Temples: Abu Simbel, Egypt Abu Simbel Temples, Landmarks and Monuments (Abu Simbel, Egypt) There are two main temples in Abu Simbel, the Temple of Ramses II (Ramesses) and the Temple of Hathor (Nefertari). These temples attract literally thousands of tourists to Abu Simbel all through the year, who come to marvel at these ancient monuments. The temples were carved into a mountain face on the western banks of the River Nile between the years of 1274 and 1244 BC, being dedicated to the Egyptian gods of Amun, Ptah, Ra-Horakhty and Pharaoh Ramses. After being threatened by the floodwaters of the River Nasser, the temples of Ramses and Hathor became part of a major relocation project and were successfully moved to their present site, block by block, piece by piece - rescued for future generations. Temple of Ramses II (Temple of Ramesses II) The Temple of Ramses was lost for many centuries, after being completely covered by the shifting desert sands.

It was not until as recently as 1813 the temple was actually rediscovered, purely by chance, when the Swiss explorer Jean-Louis Burckhardt, who spotted a distant head protruding above the sands around Abu Simbel. After careful excavation, the Temple of Ramses II was revealed and apart from one of the other heads being completely broken off, the facade was in a good state of repair. The forecourt of the temple leads onto a short stairway and ultimately onto the terrace, which is located directly opposite the 30-metre / 98-foot rock facade. Guarding the entrance are four enormous statues of Ramses II himself, who is shown staring into the distance, presumably enjoy the spectacular views. Each of the statues tower over 20 metres / 66 feet in height and are accompanied by a number of small statues depicting Queen Tuya (mother of Ramses II), Nefertari (his wife) and a number of their children. Tourists visiting Abu Simbel are strongly advised to explore the authentic recreation of the interior, which features a large hall decorated with stone sculptures of vultures, and supported by no less than eight grand columns.

Each of the columns have their own 10-metre / 33-foot statue of Ramses, while close by, the various reliefs and hieroglyphics depict various scenes from the Pharaoh's history. Open hours: charge, discounts for children and students Admission: daily, October to April - 06:00 to 17:00; May to September - 06:00 to 18:00 Temple of Hathor (Temple of Nefertari) The rock-cut Temple of Hathor is the smaller of Abu Simbel's two famous temples and was dedicated to the beloved and extremely beautiful wife of Ramses II, Queen Nefertari. This temple is very similar to the adjacent Temple of Ramses II, although only smaller in scale. The front is adorned with six larger-than-life statues, four of which represent Ramses himself, while the remaining two depict Nefertari. Step inside and you will discover the 'hypostyle' hall, where the walls boast many beautiful reliefs depicting Nefertari and the ancient Egyptian goddess, Hathor, who was worshipped by named dynasties and ever by the Scorpion King himself.

Explore the vestibule and the adjacent chambers, which are home to many colourful scenes from the past. Open hours: charge, discounts for children and students Admission: daily, October to April - 06:00 to 17:00; May to September - 06:00 to 18:00 Abu Simbel Abu Simbel At the moment convoys are not used, but travelers are free to choose any time between 4 and 11 am. It is 265 km to Abu Simbel, so you need 3 hours to go there, you can stay and visit 3 hours and then it needs 3 hours back again. Advices: The tourist police requires copies of your passports (the main page with photo and passport number) from Waleed. He needs them the previous day to prepare the papers for the convoy for you. You can give the copy (copies) to him, if you arrive in Aswan two days before your visit at Abu Simbel, or you can send them to us as jpg or pdf. Photographing is not allowed inside the temples. Guides are also not allowed inside the temples.

Thats why we recommend to buy this book instead (We have no contact to the publisher in any way). It is available at Egyptian airports and in souvenirshops in Aswan and Abu Simbel. It has beautiful pictuers and good descriptions. For beautiful memories which cannot be forgotten. If you come with a Nile Cruise, you might be surprised to find our prices to be much lower than these from your tour operator. That's why we are frequently asked to organise the excursion for guests on Nile Cruises. But most tour operators don't allow their guests to go on their own. Please read more here , if you booked with a tour operator. These who would like to stay longer / overnight, to see the monument at off-peak-hours, or who would love to see the Sound&Light-Show in the evening, use the first or second convoy to get there and return with the same driver with the first convoy or the next day. My opinion about the Sound And Light Show in Abu Simbel: not the best one in Egypt ... 30 minutes slight show, at the end blue lasers, then 10 minutes to make photos from the (very nicely!, see picture) illuminated statues.

I stayed at Nefertari (4*hotel), didnt like the food and got an aching back from the bed. More informations (without responsibility taken): WARNING: Guides at Abu Simbel, cafeteria and souvenir shops There are guides in Abu Simbel waiting around the ticket counters to offer their services. Please know they are not allowed to go inside the temple with you! They will stay outside, show you some postcards, talk much within a very short time and then open their hand to get as many Pounds from you as possible. Also (when buying the ticket) you might get a paper that sais in English "guide fees" - but explains in Arabic that part of your ticket price is used to pay pensions for retired guides. To get this paper does not include the service of a guide! There is a cafeteria near the ticket counter. Please note they have prices like airports in Western Countries, and they only sell bisquits, chips, etc. If you think you might need something to eat, bring some nuts, bred or lunchbox from your hotel with you to eat - if possible outside the vehicle . (Please understand that drivers are not happy to have guests smearing cheese and joghurt through the car or eat dropping oranges).

Souvenir shops at Abu Simbel will try to sell you items to a price that is higher than what you would pay in your own country. Please never let yourself talk into something. Calculate with a quiet mind, what you would like to spend for postcards or books, and then you can negotiate. But never pay more than what you have calculated as maximum before. With such a short time you dont have much time for shopping anyway. I would just try to stay away from these merchands. Careful drivers Often we are asked to provide careful drivers after guests have read horror stories in the internet about the convoy. Please understand that the Egyptian government cares about its tourists and laws are hard for Egyptians in case anything happens. Of course the driver will do everything that is in his hands to avoid accidents. It is as hard for drivers to drive “European Style” as it is hard for Europeans to drive “Egyptian Style”. Also drivers have to follow “convoy rules”: The first car and the last cars are with police officers – the schedule says all cars in between have to drive 120 – 130 km per hour. No car, microbus or bus can stay behind or drive more slowly. The convoy has to stay together.

It is not possible for the driver to slow down. Driving in the dark leaves guests sometimes shaking: to avoid lights in the mirror and being bedazzled by the light of the man behind, many drivers drive without lights – convinced after years of experience they can see more without than with lights in the mirrors that would confuse their eyes. These who still use lights are sometimes in trouble with other drivers who tell them to close their lights in the future. And upper beam headlights are used to warn uncoming traffic which is answered also with full beam. For people outside Africa this sounds unlogic. We have discussed with our drivers, but the pressure of the convoy rules is huge and they are afraid to make their colleagues angry. So they try their best to make their guests happy without breaking convoy rules. Please understand also their situation. Accidents during the convoy are very unusual - the drivers know their jobs well. Police Officers with the convoy The fees that are paid include permissions for guests traveling with the convoy and having police officers with the convoy. Usually there is police in the first and in the last car. The officers choose the cars themselves - and there is no chance for the guests or Waleed to argue against it.

When many tourists are in Upper Egypt, the chance to have a police officer (with gun) inside your car is very little. In fact, this never happened to one of our guests before the revolution. But since the convois have become very small due to the lack of tourism, we had the situation that police was sittingin the car from guests. There is no way to convince the police to pay for traveling with you! And of course the owner of the car company will not give discount for the car that is traveling to Abu Simbel. Please understand that this convoy is for the safety of tourists. And in case your car / microbus should be chosen, please try to take it as an adventure to have police escort in your private car. (In June 2012 there was no space in a car for a police officer. So the police asked the guests to change to microbus at their own expense or not travel at all.) Flights with Egypt Air Abu Simbel Sun Festival, Egypt Abu Simbel Sun Festival Temples of Abu Simbel Temples of Abu Simbel is the sole reason for which tourists from all over get attracted to this part of Egypt.

Built by King Ramses II, the temples of Abu Simbel are touted to be the most impressive one. The Sun temple, located on the banks of River Nile, was built in 1250 BC and is carved into the sandstone cliffs. The seated Ramses statue of 65 feet is the temple’s main attraction. There are two temples, one of Ramses and second for his queen Nefertiti. The extraordinary beauty and grandeur of the temple is simply spell bounding. The temple remained hidden from the world until 1812, when the Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt found it. In 1964, the temple was conserved to protect from the rising waters of the High Aswan Dam. The entire site was dismantled and moved to a place 65 m higher and 200 m back of the river, where the structure was reassembled again. The 108 feet high statues of Ramses on the entrance way, leading to a grand hall separated into two treasury rooms is the first thing that any person will notice in the temple. Further inside is the Hypostyle Hall filled with flowered pillars and scenes of the family of the king.

The monument is a memory of Ramses II’s victory in the Battle of Kadesh, which is believed to have taken place in 1274 BCE, between Egyptians and Anatolians which includes part of modern day Syria, Turkey and Lebanon. It’s said that the temple took about twenty years to get built. The world-famous Sun Festival at Abu Simbel The Sun Festival at Abu Simbel Temple, which remains in darkness all through the year, sees the stream of natural sunlight only on two occasions every year, which are in the months of February and October. The light which streams into the complex reflects on Ramses II and Sun God’s seated statues, illuminating the entire place highlighting the brilliant architecture of the place. The statue that remains still in darkness, even on these two days is of Ptah, the Goddess of darkness. The sight is truly a marvelous one and attracts tourists from all across to celebrate the much-celebrated Sun Festival.

The significance of Sun Festival Ramses built the temple at Abu Simbel, so that the sanctum sanctorum or the inner chamber would light up at just two times of the year, which is on 22nd February, the anniversary of his ascension to the throne and on October 22nd, which is his birthday. The festival is based on a solar phenomenon, and the Sun God being very important to Egyptians, careful planning was required to ensure everything was aligned just right. Getting to Abu Simbel Most say that getting to Abu Simbel is no less than an adventure ride and a vehicle convoy starts after meeting in Aswan at 12 am. The convoy travels together across the open desert and is escorted by military, every bus has an armed officer accompanying. Seeing the past ambushing of buses by terrorists group, military’s control seems important. The trip is of three hours after which tourists reach Abu Simbel near the Sudan border. Celebrations during Sun Festival During Sun Festival large crowd gathers around the temple to witness sunrise and to meditate. After seeing the spectacular solar phenomenon and having a good look at the statutes, tourists can then participate in the dance and singing shows.

The festival can be a fun-filled one for any person to enjoy music, dance, food, drinking, markets and much more. When here, it’s always advised to eat the local cuisine platter, which is enough to give any taste bud a treat. Sun festival as a tourism booster On the two days of the year, that are 22nd February and exactly 8 months later, 22nd October, the Tourism sector in Egypt sees the coming of many visitors, flocking from all across the globe. Witnessing this phenomenon is a feast, considering the knowledge of astronomy and technology that ancient Egyptians used for making such construction and event possible. Ministry of Tourism, during the festival teams with the people of Aswan to make arrangements and everything is ensured where tourists can get entertained and can come to celebrate the unique solar phenomenon, which can give any person an experience of a lifetime. Related links : Abu Simbel | Travel 2 Egypt Home > Places in Egypt > Egyptian Cities > Abu Simble Abu Simble The Temple of Abu Simble is surely one of the most fabulous wonders of ancient Egypt.

Constructed in the middle of the 13th century BC, Ramses II, the builder of the two temples and many other important constructions of ancient Egypt, with this huge structure, he wanted to reflect his greatness to the inhabitants of Nubia and also to document the victory he achieved after defeating the Hittites in the battle of Qadesh. The two rock cut temples were originally located to the south of the city of Aswan . However, with the construction of the High Dam in the 1960s, the Abu Simble Temples , together with seven other temples of Nubia had to be relocated. Abu Simble today lays 280 kilometers to the South of Aswan over a high artificial plateau. The History and the Construction of Abu Simble The construction of the complex of temples of Abu Simble began in the year 1244 BC and it took the builders around 20 years to complete the two temples which was is considered to be an ancient Egyptian architectural treasure.

The Temples of Abu Simble , according to the historical records, was among six other large rock cut temples constructed in Nubia during the ruling period of Ramses II in order to show the people of Nubia how a powerful king also to honour himself as the beloved of Amun, the king of gods, during the reign of the New Kingdom. The Excavation of the Temple of Abu Simble With centuries passing by, the sand of Nubia has covered almost all the Pharaonic temples situated in Upper Egypt including the marvelous temples of Abu Simble . It wasn't until the year 1813 when a Swiss orientalist was able to locate the temple once again. However, the temples was actually unearthed in 1817 by the Italian discoverer, Giovanni Battista Belzoni, who succeeded after some time to enter inside the temple. Some legends, spread mainly by Egyptian tour guides during their trips to the temple, claim that the temples was named after a young boy who led the archaeologists to discover the temple. Some other historical records assert that the complex of temples was named after the village of Abu Simble; located near the original position of the temple before being relocated.

The Relocation of the Temples of Abu Simble When the High Dam was constructed in Aswan , the temples of Abu Simble , together with many other Pharaonic temples of Nubia, faced the threat of drowning under the water of Nasser Lake, which was formed to the South of the High Dam . The idea of relocating the temples of Nubia emerged in 1955. Afterwards, in 1960, the UNESCO has called all the nations of the world to participate in the project of the Rescue of Nubian Monuments and Sites. The project began in 1963, with the contribution of many more than 50 countries from around the world, like the United States, Netherlands, Great Britain, and Spain. This is besides the Egyptian government and the UNESCO. The larger temple of Ramses II was divided into around 830 pieces and the smaller temple of the Queen Nefertari was divided into 235 pieces; with each piece being 20 tons in weight in one of the most brilliant architectural achievements of the 20th century. The pieces of the two temples were transferred to the current location of Abu Simble in 1965.

The new location is more than 150 meters above sea level to ensure the temples would never be threatened again with the level of the water in the River Nile or the Nasser Lake. The engineers of the UNESCO were able to construct an artificial mountain to be situated behind the temples to create the realistic attribute and atmosphere of rock cut temples. The mountain was built through erected a huge dome with a diameter of 60 to 65 meters and it was 38 meters high. The work of the reconstruction of the Abu Simble temples took four years to be completed in 1968 in an international project which had a budget of around 36 million US dollars to rescue this marvelous masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture and art. The Geographical Location of Abu Simble The new city of Abu Simble is located 280 kilometers to the South of Aswan , only 60 kilometers to the North of the Egyptian Sudanese borders. The complex of temples is now situated on a plateau which is 150 meters above sea level on the West bank of the Nasser Lake. Abu Simble can be reached through the Abu Simble International Airport, from Aswan or Cairo .

This is besides the new paved road that leads the city to the Aswan in the North. Moreover, many Nile Cruise ships, with deluxe services and luxurious facilities sail down the Nile from Luxor , Aswan , and then to Abu Simble in a marvelous journey. The Temple of Ramses II The Temple of Ramses II, the beloved of Amun, in Abu Simble, is featured with the four huge statues of the king, with each being 20 meters high. The four statues are wearing the large double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. Below the gigantic statues of the king, Ramses II, there are much smaller statues of the queen, Nefertari, his mother Motay, and his favorite daughters. The interior of the Temple has the layout which was common in this period of the New Kingdom. However, it is somehow more complicated with the large number of side chambers and different rooms. The most remarkable section of the temple, the same as many other ancient Egyptian structure, is the hypo-style hall. It is 18 meters in length and around 17 meters in width and it has eight huge columns with the image of Ramses II as the god Osiris.

The walls of the hypo-style hall has inscriptions and portraits showing the battle of Qadesh with Ramses II in his war wagon defeating the enemies from the Hittites The exact location of the temple was brilliantly determined by the ancient Egyptian engineers in a unique way in which two time a year, on the 21st of October and the 21st of February, the rays of the sun enters inside the temple to light statues inside the inner sanctuary, except the statue of the god Ptah, as he was associated with hell in ancient Egypt. It was said that these two dates were the birthday of the king and the day he became the ruler of Egypt. However, historical records were never certain about these facts. These two days have become important festivals where tourists from all over the world gather to view this marvelous phenomenon and there are usually some folklore shows and dances to celebrate this magnificent event. The Temple of Hathour in Abu Simble Known as the Temple of Hathour, the temple of Queen Nefertari, or simply, the smaller temple of Abu Simble, it was constructed 100 meters to the North East of the Temple of Ramses II and it was dedicated to the worship of the goddess; Hathour.

This is the second time in history when a king constructs a temple specially to honor his queen. The first time was when Ikhnaton built a temple for his beloved wife; queen Nefertiti. The temple from inside has some wonderful decorations and ornaments. The Facade of the temple has large statues of the king and the queens and they are around 10 meters in height. This is the first time in the Egyptian history when the statues of the king and the queen have the same height. For more information about tours & activities in Abu Simble visit this page . Updated on 14 May 2016 About the Cities

Question: The Abu Simbel temples are in which African country?
Answer: Egypt