Abu Simbel

a travel wonder in Egypt

Why
Abu Simbel
is special

Abu Simbel is famous for its four imposing statues of the seated Pharaoh Rameses. Those sculptures guard his temple's entrance. They and the temple behind them were originally carved out of the same sandstone cliff, over three millennia ago.

Abu Simbel
tips & insights

Taller than photos suggest

Each of the seated Abu Simbel statues is as high as a five-story building. For scale, notice the statues standing between the pharaoh's legs -- they are life size.

Why Abu Simbel was built

Pharaoh Rameses II wanted to impress his Egyptian subjects of his grandeur -- and to set fear in the hearts of his formidable Nubian enemies who threatened Egypt's southern border. 

The other Abu Simbel temple

The nearby temple of the wife of Rameses II is also a part of the Abu Simbel complex -- and an archaeological must-visit.

The saving of Abu Simbel

The construction of Egypt's vast Aswan High Dam across the Nile River in the 1960s guaranteed that the Abu Simbel wonder would be submerged -- thereby lost to future scholars and tourists -- unless it were moved to higher ground. This would require cutting Abu Simbel into large blocks and reassembling them on top of the cliff, safely above the rising waters. This remarkable engineering feat was accomplished by a joint Egyptian and international effort, finishing in the nick of time.

Interesting tidbits

Abu Simbel has many:

Construction time
It took several decades for the ancients to build Abu Simbel.

Saved by sand
Most temples of antiquity are eventually physically altered, defiled or destroyed. This was not the fate of Abu Simbel because encroaching sands soon buried its lower half. It lay forgotten for millennia. Abu Simbel wasn't rediscovered and exposed until about 200 years ago.

Earthquake damage
The second from the left Pharaoh statute was severely damaged by an ancient earthquake. The shattered fallen head and torso lie at the statue's feet (see photo in upper-left column).

Artificial cliff
Originally, the backdrop of Abu Simbel was the cliff it was carved out of. Problem: The 1960s relocated temple would be on top of the cliff, which had no backdrop. Solution: Construct an artificial mountain behind the relocated temple's facade.

Most sacred chamber
Abu Simbel's innermost room lies at the end of a long corridor straight back from the temple's entrance. Once only the Pharaoh and high priests could go inside this ultra holy sanctuary. Now you can, too.

Equinox show
Twice a year a shaft of light from the rising sun mystically illuminates the deity statues inside the innermost room. This occurs during the spring and fall equinoxes (late February and October).

Rameses II
The man who commissioned Abu Simbel is considered the greatest Pharaoh ever. He reigned for a long time - 67 years (1279 to 1213 BC).

Mummy
His 3200 year old mummy is dramatically displayed (head and hand are unwrapped) in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

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Wonders of the World

I hope your Egypt travel dreams come true - and that 

my Abu Simbel page helps you enjoy your vacation, tour or trip

©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications