It might be challenging to accept the reality of certain aspects of life. A well-known illustration of this is seen in Abu Simbel’s temples. They watch over holy grounds and serve as a constant reminder of the ancient Egyptians’ might and glory. The stunning beauty of Abu Simbel’s temples left an impression on everyone who visited. Images of the past’s splendor, praise, and joy were shown.
That the sun managed to construct the temples is nothing short of a miracle. Many consider the temple among the most significant archaeological sites on the planet due to its wealth of knowledge. UNESCO has decided that the Great Temple of Abu Simbel should be included on its list of World Heritage Sites because of its significance as a landmark in the African country of Nubia. Evidence like this demonstrates the magnificent temple’s status as a marvel on many levels.
History of Temples:
It took twenty years, from 1264 BC to 1244 BC, to construct the massive temples of Abu Simbel. Temples were erected in honor of deities like as Ra-Horakty, the deified Ramesses II (The Great Temple), Ptah, Hathor, and Queen Nefertari. From 1279 to 1213 B.C.E., Ramses the Great reigned as king of Egypt. The “Temple of Ramesses, Beloved by Amun” was constructed for two reasons: to celebrate and commemorate his conquests and achievements and to demonstrate his deep and abiding love for his stunning bride, Nefertari.
These two factors allowed for the construction to take place. Switzerland’s John Lewis Burckhardt discovered it in 1813, and Abu Simbel, an Egyptian Nubian child, had guided him there. It took a long time for the temple to be rediscovered after the sand had buried it. After the sand was removed from the temple in 1909, it quickly gained a reputation as one of Egypt’s top tourist attractions.
Abu Simbel Temples Location:
About 230 kilometers (140 miles) southwest of Aswan on the western bank of Lake Nasser, the spectacular temple of Abu Simbel may be found near the southernmost part of Upper Egypt, in the Nubian regions, just over the border in Sudan on the west bank of the Nile. It’s impressive carving into a mountainside attests to the ancient Egyptians’ political and military might.
Abu Simbel Temples Building:
The temple’s stunning architecture successfully conveys the grandeur and beauty of ancient Egypt. The massive temple is 30 meters in height and 35 meters in length, and it is adorned with four sculptures of Ramses the Great on a throne, each measuring 20 meters in height. Perhaps you might find these sculptures in front of the temple (65 ft). Miniature sculptures representing him killing his foes, paying homage to the gods, and keeping a watch on his loved ones may be grouped under the more enormous statues.
A statue of Ramesses II, Upper and Lower Egypt’s joint kin, is greeting visitors at the door, wearing the dual crown. He occupies an enormous chair. On the interior of the temple, there are three separate rooms. At their highest, they may be up to 56 meters in height and serve as a directional aid to the exit (185 feet). The hypostyle hall has a width of 16.7 meters and a height of 18 meters, and eight enormous Osiris pillars support it. Ramsess is seen here in the form of Osiris, ruler of the underworld. These artifacts prove that the pharaoh would rule forever.
A chamber in the center of the hall is decorated with sculptures of the pharaoh, depictions of the gods, and images commemorating his triumph at the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BC, the first peace treaty recorded in history. All the gods are represented by sculptures in this chamber, rich with wartime imagery. Twenty-two baboons stand in a row on the building’s front, their arms raised as if saluting the dawn. The inner sanctuary of the temple has statues of the deities Ptah (also known as “God of Creation”), Amun (also known as “The Creator God”), and Ra (also known as “The Sun God”).
The sun festival is dedicated to the deity Ra. The stunning Nefertari temple lies about a hundred meters northeast of the enormous temple, with two sets of colossi separated by a massive entryway. In addition to the six sculptures honoring her husband, King Ramses II, the queen has two of her own. There are 35 feet of it. In Egyptian mythology, “Hathor” represents the goddess of love, attraction, and joy. Many different deities are represented here, including the sky falcon “Horus,” the goddess of justice “Maat,” and others.
Moving the temples of Abu Simbel:
After the Aswan high dam was constructed, the level of Lake Nasser rose, flooding both the Philae temple and the Abu Simbel temple. Midway through the 1950s, all of Abu Simbel’s temples were relocated, and this was the single most significant event in the history of Abu Simbel’s temples.
The Egyptian government reached out to UNESCO for assistance when it saw that Abu Simbel was at risk of being destroyed. In 1960, people from around the globe gathered together to plan the most ambitious and risky rescue operation in history. A Swedish firm named “Vattenbyggnadsbyrn” developed a brilliant strategy to rescue the temples and spearheaded a worldwide fundraising campaign. It took four years, from 1964 to 1968, and $300 million (in current terms) to complete the rescue operation.
The temple of Abu Simbel was dismantled using power saws, with each block weighing between 20 and 30 tonnes. After that, the blocks were brought to their current location and assembled with reinforcing bars and holes punched to resemble the genuine cliff as closely as possible. This occurred on a cement and steel platform that served as a sturdy base encircled by an artificial stone mountain.
Sun Festival at Abu Simbel:
The Abu Simbel temples in Egypt have been the site of one of the oldest festivals in human history for almost 3,500 years. When the sun is high in the sky, even the deepest recesses of the temple are illuminated for this celebration. In recognition of Ramses II’s birthday and the day he ascended to the throne, the Abu Simbel Sun Festival occurs annually between February 22 and October 22.
The center chamber is illuminated, illuminating the faces of the sitting sculptures of Ramses II, Amun (The Creator God), and Ra (The Sun God), except Ptah (The Creator God), who was associated with the underworld in ancient Egypt and hence required complete darkness. To this day, sightseers from all over the globe are drawn to religious structures that face the morning or evening sun.
Book now your tour to Abu Simbel from Cairo via Aswan and enjoy your journey in Egypt with Travel Door Tours. or you can book your trip to Abu Simbel from Aswan by flight.
