The Great Temple is located in the village of Abu Simbel, Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt, near the border with Sudan.

Kane Khanh | Archeaology
December 5, 2023

The Abu Simbel temple is a national treasure and one of the most important sites in Egypt and the world. When you visit the temple, you’ll be impressed by the cleverness of its design, which showcases the culture of the ancient Egyptians. The inscriptions on the walls depict the life and religious rituals of the ancient Egyptians. The Abu Simbel temple is one of the greatest temples of ancient Egypt, and it consists of two temples: the main Temple of Abu Simbel and a smaller one.

The location of the Abu Simbel Temple

The Abu Simbel temple is located in the middle of the mountain on the western bank of the Nile River in the south of Aswan. It’s situated on the western bank of Lake Nasser, behind the High Dam. The temple was carved into the rock and divided into two parts. It was built during the reign of the 19th dynasty, and King Ramses II commissioned its construction in 1250 BC. The Abu Simbel Temple is a remarkable feat of engineering and design.

The statues in the Abu Simbel temple are very large and impressive. At the front of the temple, there are six statues, the first four of which depict King Ramses II. The remaining two statues are of Queen Nefertari, the king’s wife.

The main Abu Simbel temple.

The Abu Simbel temple is an incredible structure with a height of 33 meters and a width of 38 meters. At the front of the temple, there are four giant statues, each approximately 20 meters tall. It’s amazing that these statues face the sun, and their features are beautiful and smiling. Above the statues, you’ll find the names and titles of Ramses II, as well as a group of inscriptions, writings, and drawings that are stunning to behold. At the bottom of the temple, there are statues of the king’s family.

Inside the temple, you’ll see a ceiling decorated with drawings of falcons. The sun shines on the head of Ramses II twice a year: on his birthday and on the day of his coronation. This remarkable feat of engineering and design is considered one of the great architectural masterpieces of ancient Egypt, and tourists from all over the world come to see it. The temple is one of the largest sanctified places used by the ancient Egyptians.

The small Abu simbel temple.

The small Abu Simbel Temple is located 150 meters north of the main temple. It features six statues, including four of King Ramses II and two of his wife, Queen Nefertari. The temple consists of an entrance that leads to a hall with beautiful columns adorned with inscriptions and writings. On the sides of the temple, you can see drawings of the king and queen, while the walls depict scenes from the king’s daily life, including offerings of food and drink.

As you enter the temple, you’ll see drawings of the king and queen with the goddess, and inside the temple, there is a statue of the goddess Hathor. The columns are particularly impressive, and the drawings and inscriptions provide fascinating insights into the lives and beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. Despite being smaller than the main temple, the small Abu Simbel Temple is an essential part of any visit to this remarkable site.

Saving the Abu Simbel temple from sinking.

“The Abu Simbel temple was moved in 1959 due to the construction of the High Dam. The high level of the Nile River behind the High Dam would have caused the Abu Simbel temple to sink, so in 1965, the temple was moved to another location. The workers cut the temple into large stones that were then raised and placed in the new location. About 150,000 tons of rock were raised above the temple to create a mountain. The relocation of the temple was completed in 1968. UNESCO took responsibility for the temple’s preservation as it is considered a cultural treasure, not just for Egypt but for the whole world. The Abu Simbel temple is a national and global asset, and international organizations have cooperated to protect and preserve it.”

The sun comes down to the statue of Ramses II.

“One of the most beautiful phenomena in the world was the sun coming down on the statue of Ramses II on two specific days each year. The first was on February 22, which was the king’s birthday, and the second was on October 21, the day of the king’s coronation in Egypt. However, after the construction of the High Dam and the relocation of the temple to a new location, the phenomenon changed. The sun now comes down on the head of the statue on October 22 and February 22 due to the shift in longitude and latitude caused by the temple’s relocation.”

The discovery of the Abu Simbel temple.

However, the temple was not properly excavated until 1817, when Giovanni Belzoni, an Italian explorer and engineer, cleared the entrance of the temple and entered it. Belzoni found that the temple was in good condition and that the statues were intact. He made drawings and wrote about his discovery in his journal. Belzoni also found inscriptions on the walls of the temple that helped to understand the culture and religion of ancient Egypt. Since then, the Abu Simbel temple has been a significant site for archaeologists, historians, and tourists from all over the world.

Facts about the Temple of Abu Simbel.

The Temple of Abu Simbel shows the cleverness of the ancient Egyptians in architecture and astronomy. The evidence of this cleverness of the ancient Egyptians is clear due to the coming down of the sun to the statue of Ramses II. There is a small temple next to the main temple This temple was built by Ramses II for his wife Nefertari ot express his love for her. Abu Simbel Temple was built Around 2400 BC ago. The huge statues were Sculpted in order to terrorize enemies of the king. Abu simbel Temple Immortalize the Battle of Kadesh which King Ramses II defeated the enemies. The temple has a concrete dome. The height of this dome is 23 meters. This top of the dome has been completed to protect the temple statues.

The Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock temples located in the southern part of Egypt, near the border with Sudan. They were built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC and are considered among the most impressive ancient sites in Egypt. The two temples are dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah, and to the deified Pharaoh Ramses II himself.

The larger temple is dedicated to Ramses II and features four giant statues of the pharaoh, each over 20 meters high. The temple also contains a number of chambers and halls adorned with intricate carvings and colorful hieroglyphics.

The smaller temple is dedicated to Ramses’ favorite wife, Queen Nefertari, and features six statues at the entrance, four of the queen and two of Ramses. The interior of the temple contains a sanctuary and several halls with stunning wall carvings.

In addition to their architectural and historical significance, the Abu Simbel temples are famous for their unique alignment with the sun. Twice a year, on February 22 and October 22, the rays of the rising sun shine through the temple’s entrance, illuminating the statue of Ramses II in the innermost chamber.

The Abu Simbel temples are a popular destination for visitors to Egypt and can be reached by plane or by organized tour from Aswan. They are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site and are considered one of the most important ancient sites in Egypt.