Temple of Abu Simbel
Among Egypt’s most famous archaeological sites are the two temples of Abu Simbel, which were included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979, alongside Abu Simbel to Philae. They lie about 240 kilometers southwest of Aswan on the west bank of the Nile, between the first and second cataracts. The area contains two temples created by Ramses.
The larger temple, dating to around 1300 BC, is the Great Temple of Ramses II, and the other is the smaller temple dedicated to his wife Nefertari.
The two temples were carved directly into a sandstone cliff by the Nile. They are among the most beautiful and magnificent Egyptian temples. The Great Temple was known as the temple of Ramses beloved by Amun. Construction was completed in the 26th regnal year of the king, around 1256 BC. The temple’s façade is the most beautiful and magnificent temple façade—purely Egyptian and unique in its design. It is about 35 meters wide. The temple measures 33 meters in height, 38 meters in width, and about 63 meters deep into the rock.
The façade is decorated with four colossal seated statues of Ramses II, two on each side, each about 21 meters tall. It shows the king sitting on his throne wearing a crown. Smaller carved statues of his wives and children flank the larger ones.
The entrance leads to a nine-meter-high hall with statues of King Ramses II in ministerial poses. On the walls of this hall are inscriptions depicting Ramses killing his enemies and detailed scenes of the famous Battle of Kadesh. On the south wall, images show the king attacking a fortress from his war chariot.
The ceiling features magnificent depictions of birds spreading their wings and stars in the sky. This hall leads to another chamber with a ceiling divided into four squares. On its west wall is an entrance leading to the sanctuary, which houses four seated statues of Ramses II alongside Ra, Hor-akheti, Amun, and Ptah in the center. The smaller temple is located some distance away.
It lies 150 meters north of the Great Temple and is highly magnificent and beautiful, with a distinctive façade adorned by six huge statues, each about 11 meters tall. Three statues stand north of the entrance and three south of it. The façade is about 30 meters wide and approximately 13 meters high.
The entrance leads to a hall with six columns and the crown of a nymph on its walls. The walls were decorated with scenes of offerings and religious ceremonies. This leads through a small passage to the sanctuary, which contains a statue of Hathor in the form of a cow.
In 1959, the rising water level of the Nile endangered both temples.
UNESCO launched one of the most beautiful and ambitious rescue projects for their preservation. Starting in 1960 and continuing until 1980, a detailed plan was developed to dismantle both temples and relocate them to a higher site away from the Nile’s waters. In 1963, workers and engineers began cutting the temples into blocks, numbering over 1,000 blocks each. These blocks, some weighing up to 30 tons, were reassembled on an artificial hill. An iron dome was constructed over the temples.
This new site lies about 64 meters above the temples’ original location.
One of the most important phenomena related to the temple is the solar alignment. Twice a year—on February 22 and October 22—the sun stands directly perpendicular to the face of Ramses II, perhaps marking his birthday and coronation. The sun’s rays travel about 55 meters inside the temple, reaching the sanctuary.
The best Hurghada excursions
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Private boat tour Hurghada
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Private snorkeling tour Hurghada
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Orange Beach Hurghada