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Where it's at
As one of Egypt's most famous archaeological sites, the Ramses
II Temple located in Abu Simbel is a top attraction
for visitors. Despite its great distance from Cairo and the
fact visiting it from Aswan involves travelling by land from
Aswan in a police convoy, it's a site not to be missed: first,
because the statues of Ramses II are some of the most awe
inspiring in all of Egypt, and second, to marvel at the engineering
feat of moving the entire temple, block after block, to save
if from the rising waters of Lake Nasser in the late
1960's.
History
Located near the Sudanese border, the Ramses II temple was
designed in the 13th Century BC to strike awe into travellers
coming from southern Africa, educating them to the grandeur
of Egyptian culture. The four largest statues in front are
Ramses II, and the smaller ones next to them are fashioned
to resemble his favourite wife, Nefertari and Prince
Amonherkhepshef, his son. Inside, along the 185 foot hallway,
wall carvings depicting Ramses' II achievements lead into
an inner chamber illuminated twice a year by the rising sun:
February 22 and October 22 in the new location (a day later
than before the temple was moved). The inner sanctuary is
dedicated to the three gods Ptah, Amun and Harakhty
whose faces are illuminated by the sun's rays.
Ramses II's reign was dominated by this construction, and
the entire country is dotted with his temples and tombs dedicated
to his family, his achievements, and most importantly, himself.
The largest cluster of these are in the Ramasseum in
Luxor containing Ramses' funerary temple and Queen
Nefertari's tomb, one of the most beautifully painted
in the entire country.
The temple a
t Abu Simbel was worshipped in during Ramses
II's reign, but eventually it was abandoned and over time
the sands of the desert buried the temple which became completely
forgotten by the people who lived in the region. In 1813 it
was uncovered by a Swiss explorer who came across one of the
heads of Ramses II statues rising out of the sand. It took
four years before enough sand was removed and the temple could
be explored and documented.
Visiting Ramses II today
When visiting the temple today, travellers can choose to stay
in Aswan and visit on a day trip, or stay in the town
Abu Simbel itself. Group tours tend to stay in Aswan and only
spend a few hours at the temples before heading back before
nightfall. Staying in Abu Simbel might be a better option
if you plan to explore the temple and Lake Nasser, which has
transformed Egypt's agricultural production since being formed
by the High Dam in 1971. Accommodation quality isn't great
and doesn't come cheap here but it is a small price to pay
to explore this exciting and remote part of Egypt.
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