Abu Simbel Temples

Abu Simbel Temples What a truly awesome sight awaits you when you first see the Abu Simbel Temples. The Abu Simbel Temples which lies South of Aswan along the Lake Nasser’s shore is the most famous in the whole of Egypt, following of course the Great Giza Pyramids. Constructed by the eminent of the Pharaohs Ramses II, which also became acknowledged as the Temple of Ramesses II, or Ramesess II, the vast rock cut Temples pronounced the Southern boundary of the Egyptian Empire with Nubia at the peak of it’s control throughout the New Kingdom. They were meant to spread the control of Egypt’s rulers to anyone who laid eyes upon them. There are four Statues which guard the doorway to the larger of the Temples and are the largest sculptures to survive from the Ancient Pharaonic Period. Where are the Abu Simbel Temples Located? The Abu Simbel Temples are located in Abu Simbel , which is a small Village in Aswan in Upper Egypt which is close to the border with Sudan which is on the Western Bank of Lake Nasser. Why were the Abu Simbel Temples Built? Constructed to present a lasting Monument to the King and his Queen Nefertari, and also to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh, this was the reason why the Twin Temples were built. The Rediscovery of the Abu Simbel Temples. Following the disappearance from Civilization for some time, the Abu Simbel Temples were rediscovered in 1813 by the Swiss explorer John Lewis Burkhardt. The Temples had been forgotten for quite some time and the Desert Sands had covered everything but the top of the Heads of the vast Statues which were in the front of the entrances. When the sand was eventually cleared away in 1909 the Twin Temples have become the most famous of sites in the South of Egypt. Relocation of the Abu Simbel Temples. As an outcome of the rising of the Waters of the River Nile which was about to result from the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the Twin Temples of Abu Simbel were under a warning. The relocation of the Abu Simbel Temples were in order to rescue the Ancient Temples from the Waters of the River Nile. In 1968 the Abu Simbel Temples were taken apart and relocated on the Desert Plateau, which was 64 meters above and 180 meters West of the original construction site. Relocating the Temples was by no means an easy feat , it was massive work, which included the cutting of Temples into pieces between three to twenty tons in weight and putting them back together exactly as they were before at the new site, this took nearly five Years to finally finish the relocation of the Temples. What do the Abu Simbel Temples look like? Consisting of two Temples, the first one is the Great Temple which is dedicated to Ramesses II himself , and the second Temple, which is a smaller Temple is dedicated to his wife Queen Nefertari, Great Temple, Taking approx.. Twenty Years to build the Great Temple of Abu Simbel which was also known as Temple of Ramses II, was dedicated to the Gods Amun, Ra-Horakhly and Ptah, including as well to the Great King Ramesses himself. It is mainly considered the most impressive and most striking of the Temples which were commissioned during Ramesses II’s reign, and one of the most striking in Egypt. The entrance to the Great Temple is bordered by four colossal Statues, on it’s Façade, twenty meter Statues, each one representing Ramesses II, seated on his Throne. Decorated with Hieroglyphics the Main Temple of the Façade which commemorates the Great Victory of Ramses II at the Battle of Kades. As you enter the Great Temple itself there are a succession of Rooms, which are dedicated to Ramses himself and the Important Members of his Family. The final Room, which is the Sanctum, Santourim remains in the darkness every day with the exception of two days a Year. This was not done by accident, it was a necessity for a braoder knowledge of Science,architecture, mathematics and Astronomy to achieve this outcome. Small Temple. The smaller Temple which is the second Temple is dedicated to the Goddess Hathor, although it is noticeably smaller than the first, it was constructed to honor Ramses most favourite wife Nefertari. The Queen appears on an equal footing with the Pharaoh, and is also known as the Temple of Nefertari and Hathor. The Façade which is rock cut of the Temple is adorned with two groups of Colossi which are segregated by the Large Gateway. Alignment of the Sun with the Temple of Ramses II Abu Simbel. Aligend with the Sun is the Larger Temple so that twice a Year the Sun shines in it’s innermost recesses to Illuminate a Satatue of Ramses and the Gods to which the Temple is dedicated to. The architects in Ancient Times located the Temples so that the Sunlight reached the Room on Februrary twenty second which was the anniversary of of his accenssion to the Throne and on his Birthday which was October the Twenty Second. On these two dates, the Sun rises and Illuminates the Corridor of the Temple and three of the four Satues in the Sancturary. The first three Statues are of the Pharaoh Ramses II, Ra who is the God of the Sun, and Amon the King of the Gods. Ramses was included the reason being that like the other Pharaohs he considered himself to be a God. The fourth of the Statues remains in darkness because it portrays Ptah, who is the God of darkness, in more that three thousand two hundred Years this Statue has never seen the Sunlight. What is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival. Fittingly named the Sun Festival, the Central Chambers of the Temple is Illuminated by the Sun, and twice a Year people from around the World get together at the Temples of Abu Simbel to celebrate the Ancient Egyptians and all of their accomplishments. When is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival? On Februrary Twenty Second and October the Twenty Second of every Year the Abu Simbel Sun Festival takes place with much celebration and several thousand people come together in the early Morning to view this testimony of the skill and the knowledge that the Ancient Egyptians possessed in order to align the Temple to perfection. How to get to the Abu Simbel Temples? The location of the Temples are several hours drive South of Aswan, but most Tourists actually arrive at Abu Simbel via Plane . It only takes approx.. thirty minuites flying time from Aswan and there are two flights daily which are timed so that the Tourists will have approx.. two hours to spend at the Temples. There is also the possibility to visit Abu Simbel by taking a Lake Nasser Cruise. The Ships which dock just in front of the Temples which allow the passengers the opportunity to view the Temples by the Moonlight and also the Light of the Early Morning.