Abu Simbel Temples

Abu Simbel Temples is one of the jewels of Egypt, a huge sanctuary dedicated to the pharaoh Ramses II, which has ensured that the name of this Egyptian monarch has endured for more than 3,000 years. Although the Temple of Ramses is the best known of Abu Simbel Temples, the complex is composed of several buildings dedicated to the worship of the ancient gods and pharaohs. Today Abu Simbel continues to amaze visitors in the same way it did at the time of its construction.

What is the history of the Temple?

Abu Simbel means the father of the spike. The temples were built by order of the Pharaoh Ramses II, son of Seti I.

The construction of the temple began approximately in 1284 B.C. and lasted about 20 years, until 1264 B.C. It is one of the six hypogea, excavated in the rock.

The purpose of the temple was to impress the southern neighbors and to reinforce the influence of the Egyptian religion in the region. The temple was built in the reign of Ramses II to commemorate his victory in the battle of Kadesh (1274 BC). It is dedicated to the worship of Ramses himself as well as to the worship of the great deities of ancient Egypt, Amun, Ra and Ptah. In this way, the pharaoh was placed as another divinity of the Egyptian pantheon.

Abu Simbel Location

Abu Simbel is located 280 kilometers south of Aswan, very close to the border with Sudan (about 70 kilometers). Undoubtedly, Abu Simbel is one of the most important and interesting archaeological sites in Egypt. And surprising as it may sound, Abu Simbel is not located on its original site. These marvelous temples were moved, stone by stone from their original location (caused by the construction of the Nasser Dam), without any noticeable change. It seems as if they have always been there. The complex, weighing more than three hundred thousand tons, was elevated more than 64 meters from its original location to prevent it from being covered by the waters.

Conclusion of Abu Simbel Temples

At the end of 1956 and the beginning of the planning for the construction of the new Aswan Dam, an international campaign led by UNESCO was launched to save the monuments of Nubia. Work to relocate the Abu Simbel Temples began in 1964 and was completed in 1968 at a cost of $40 million. To avoid damaging the sculptures, both temples were covered with sand. Then the entire site, not just the temples, was cut into large blocks that were sorted and numbered. They were relocated 200 meters back and 60 meters higher than their original location. The entire original site was reassembled in its new location, reserving the original orientation and the original landscape.