In the 1960s the Egyptian government began plans to construct the Aswan High Dam on River Nile. The town of Abu Simbel itself … Why were the Abu Simbel Temples built? Several smaller statues are also located on the entrance resembling the enemies defeated by the Pharaoh. The Great Temple of Abu Simbel is dedicated to the gods Amon-Ra, Ra-Harakhti, and Ptah, but it was also erected to demonstrate the might of the Egyptian empire and for the eternal glorification of Ramesses II. Where is the Abu Simbel Temple Complex Located The Abu Simbel Temple Complex is located southwest of Aswan or Luxor at Abu Simbel village in Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt. Abu Simbel survived through ancient times, only to be threatened by modern progress. It is also possible to visit Abu Simbel by joining a Lake Nasser cruise. It is best known as the site of two rock-cut temples commissioned by Ramses II in the 13th century BC.The remarkable buildings have a fascinating history. Here is your guide to planning a visit to Abu Simbel! It sits on Aglika Island just south of the old Aswan Dam a, Gaining its name by its shape which resembles standing elephants in the water, Elephantine Island offers many attract, The Nubian Museum contains three Thousands pieces of antiquities, representing various ages; Geological, Pharaonic, R, The Monastery of St. Simeon was established in the 7th century by Coptic monks seeking to escape to the meditative qu, Most probably this obelisk belongs to Queen Hatshepsut, one of the rulers of the 18th dynasty and the royal wife of k. Luxor and Aswan Travel specialized in providing professional advice on planning Travel Packages, Nile Cruises and Day Tours. Settle aboard a comfortable, white-sailed ', he High Dam was built 1960, and it was the most heralded part of President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s effort to, Aswan Botanical Garden offers a beautiful & unique escape from the city. Archeologists and historians believe that it took 20 years to complete the temples which were dedicated to the Egyptian deities Ptah and Ra-Horakhty. Where is Abu Simbel? Abu Simbel is a small town village with only the temples for the tourist attraction. Of all the magnificent monuments and awe-inspiring temples on your Egypt vacation, the great Sun Temple at Abu Simbel south of Aswan is perhaps the most unique. The Great Temple at Abu Simbel took around twenty years to build. However, due to the rising waters of Lake Nasser when the Egyptian government built the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River, these original locations are now underwater. Built by the greatest of the pharaohs, Ramesses II, which made it also known as the Temple of Ramses II or Ramesses II, these huge rock-cut temples marked the southern boundary of the Egyptian Empire with Nubia at the peak of its power during the New Kingdom. Abu Simbel Temple History. Abu Simbel Tour in Great Temple: The temple is located in the south of the city of Aswan. The Abu Simbel temples were originally located along the Nile river, carved out of the solid mountain rock. The façade of the main temple is decorated with hieroglyphs that commemorate the great victory of Ramses II at the Battle of Kades. The resulting rising water levels led to a threat to the Abu Simbel Temples. The temples at Abu Simbel are not in their original location – they were formerly located further down the hillside facing the Nile in the same relative positions. The temple was built during the reign of King Ramses II and dedicated to the worship of the god Ra Hor, the sister of the sun god. It’s often visited as a day trip from both Aswan and Cairo. The Temples of Abu Simbel. The Abu Simbel Temples are located at Abu Simbel, a small village of Aswan in Upper Egypt near the border with Sudan on the western bank of Lake Nasser. The Abu Simbel Temples are two rock temples located in Nubia, Egypt near the Sudan-Egypt border. The pharaoh commissioned the construction of the monuments as a commemoration of his victory against the Hittite Empire led at the ancient city of Kadesh during the Battle of Kadesh in May 1274 BCE. The Abu Simbel Temples are located on the west bank of the Nile River, approximately 230 km southwest of Aswan in an area known a Nubia. This ancient temple complex is considered as one of the best places to visit in Egypt and form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site … The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Nubian Monuments”, which are ten monuments running from the Philae Temple down to Abu Simbel. You are going to have a private to, Safaga Shore Excursions: Private tours from Safaga Port Visiting Cairo and luxor for 2 Days 1 night visiting Giza Pyramids in cairo ,Luxor Temple,Valley of Kings and Coloss, Enjoy Cairo To Alexandria Day Trip, Visiting rock-cut Roman catacombs, the ruins of a Roman temple complex, and Qaitbey Citadel. This site is UNESCO protected due to its Archaeological significance. They were meant to convey the power of Egypt’s rulers to anyone who laid eyes upon them. The temple complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Nubian Monuments. The temples had long been forgotten and the sands of the desert had covered all but the tops of the heads of the huge statues in front of their entrances. It was dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah, as well as to the deified Ramesses himself. The Great Temple at Abu Simbel, which took about twenty years to build, was completed around year 24 of the reign of Ramesses the Great (which corresponds to 1265 BC). The second temple, the Small Temple, is dedicated to the goddess Hathor. Abu Simbel is situated in Upper Egypt in a village called Nubia, which is near to the border with northern Sudan. The interior of the Small Temple is decorated with many engravings depicting the Pharaoh and his Queen making offerings to the Egyptian deities. On these two dates, the sun rises and illuminates the temple corridor, and three of the four statues in the sanctuary. “Following the decision to build a new High Dam at Aswan in the early 1960s, the temples were dismantled and relocated in 1968 on the It is generally considered the grandest and most beautiful of the temples commissioned during Ramesses II’s reign, and one of the most beautiful in Egypt. It’s also known as the Temple of Hathor and Nefertari. After it was abandoned many centuries, the temples were buried in desert sand. Moving the temples was not a job; it was massive work. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2021 worldatlas.com, Abu Simbel Temples - Historic Sites of Egypt, The Geography Of Egypt: The Climate And The Natural Regions Of Egypt, 10 Unique National Historic Sites of the United States: Midwest, The 10 Busiest Airports In The United States, 10 Oldest National Parks In The United States, Largest Nature Parks In And Around Urban Areas In The United States. Also known as Temple of Ramses II, it was dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah, as well as to the Great King Ramesses himself. The ancient architects positioned the temple so that sunlight reached the room on February 22, the anniversary of his accession to the throne and on his birthday, October 22. The temples were discovered in 1813 by Swiss orientalist Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who had heard about them from the locals. The Small Temple stands 40 feet in height and 92 feet in length and is dedicated to Queen Nefertari. The Temple of Abu Simbel is one of the most famous and important monuments in Egyptian history and culture, especially in the Pharaonic era, this extraordinary monument was built in the past about 3000 years ago and is located on the western shore of Lake Nasser in the city of Aswan. It is generally considered the grandest and most beautiful of the temples commissioned during the reign of Ramesses II, and one of the most beautiful in Egypt. The temples are located several hours drive, south of Aswan, but most tourists actually arrive at Abu Simbel by plane. The Great Temple, considered to be one of the grandest and most beautiful in all of Egypt, is the one with the four colossal statues and is dedicated to Ramesses II. The Great Temple is the larger of the two temples with a height of 98 feet and 115 feet in length. Since 1909 when the sand was finally cleared away, these twin temples have become the most famous site in Egypt’s south. It is difficult to explain with words the first impression when you get to this fascinating place. The Abu Simbel Temples were dismantled and relocated in 1968 on the desert plateau 64 meters above and 180 meters west of their original built site. The Abu Simbel temples are comprised of two massive temples, The Great Temple and The Small Temple. The first one is the Great Temple which is dedicated to Ramesses II himself and the second temple, Small Temple, which is dedicated to his wife Queen Nefertari. There are actually two temples. It is located at the banks of the Aswan Dam, very close to the border with Sudan. It was dedicated to Ramesses II, Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah. Today they are a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with a number of other UNESCO sites in Nubia from Abu Simbel Temples to Philae Temple near Aswan. The temple complex was commissioned by Ramesses II, one of ancient Egypt’s most renowned pharaohs. The pharaoh commissioned the construction of the monuments as a commemoration of his victory against the Hittite Empire led at the ancient city of The first three statues are of Pharaoh Ramses II, Ra (the god of sun), and Ammon (the king of the gods). Because the site would soon be flooded by the rising Nile, it was decided that the temples should be moved. Facts about Abu Simbel. The relocation of the Abu Simbel Temples was completed in 1968. The massive rock temples are a remarkable testament of ancient Egyptian civilization and were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979. While impressed, the Swiss did not have the capacity to excavate the temples and later informed fellow explorer Giovanni Belzoni of his discovery. An international campaign was subsequently launched to seek for funding to relocate the ancient temples. Ramses was included with the gods because, like the other pharaohs, he considered himself a god. Specifically, it is situated 287 km (178 mi) from Aswan and 499 km (310 mi) from Luxor. Abu Simbel, site of two temples built by the Egyptian king Ramses II, located in ancient times at pharaonic Egypt’s southern frontier facing Nubia. As a result of the rising waters of the Nile River that were about to result from the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the twin temples of Abu Simbel were under a threat. The flight from Aswan is only 30 minutes and there are two flights a day, timed so that tourists will have about two hours to spend at the temples. The entrance to the temple features six massive colossi, four statues of Pharaoh Ramesses II and two of his queen Nefertari. The Abu Simbel Temples were constructed during the rule of Pharaoh Ramesses II in around 1264 BCE. This is based on the fact that the artwork decorating the interior of the Great Temple indicates that the monument was created to celebrate, to a certain extent, the victory of Rames… Abu Simbel is a beautiful place consisting of two rock temples which are carved into the mountainside. The greater temple is the larger of the two temples and contains four ginormous, towering statues of the seated pharaoh Ramesses II (1303-1213 B.C. This was not done by chance, it was necessary a broad knowledge of science, mathematics, architecture, and astronomy to achieve this result. The entrance features four huge statues, two on each side which resemble Pharaoh Ramesses II. The queen appears on an equal footing with the pharaoh. Its rock-cut temples, with their colossal statues at the entrance, are of impressive beauty. It is located on the bank of the lake Nasser in the west which is about 230 km in … The Abu Simbel temples are two very large rock temples built by the ancient Egyptians, at Abu Simbel.This is a village in Nubia, southern Egypt, near the border with Sudan.The temples are on the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 230 km southwest of Aswan.They are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments." This site, Abu Simbel Temples, south of Aswan along Lake Nasser’s shore is the most famous in all of Egypt after the Giza Pyramids. The Small temple is located about 100 meters (330 feet) to the … Safaga Shore Excursions Tours: One day tour to luxor from Safaga Port Visiting the Highlights of luxor West and East Bank that includes a visit to Valley of the Kings, Hats, Safaga Shore Excursions: Overnight trip to Luxor from Safaga port visiting Luxor Temple, Karnak temples and Valley of the Kings and more. The Great Temple’s interior is decorated with numerous engravings depicting the Egyptian victory against the Hittites. The twin temples were built to serve as a lasting monument to the king and his queen Nefertari, and commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh. Where are the temples of Abu Simbel? The temples of Abu Simbel were constructed over 3,000 years ago by Ramesses II, one of the most powerful rulers of ancient Egypt. The Abu Simbel Sun Festival takes place on February 22nd and October 22nd of every year to much fanfare with several thousand people gathering early in the morning to see this testament to the knowledge and skill that the ancient Egyptians possess in order to align the temple so perfectly. The Temples of Abu Simbel were relocated in order to rescue the ancient temples from the waters of the Nile. There are two temples. Abu Simbel is a village located in southern Egypt, on the bank of the river Nile. The impressive ruins sit on a plateau overlooking Lake Nassar. Upon entering the great temple, there are a series of rooms, dedicated to Ramses himself and important members of his family. These ships moor just in front of the temples so that passengers have a chance to see the temples by moonlight and in the early morning light. The larger temple is aligned with the sun, so twice a year the sun shines in its deepest recesses to illuminate a statue of Ramses and the gods to which the temple is dedicated. They were carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century B.C during the reign of the 19th dynasty pharaoh Ramesses II. These splendid Abu Simbel temples are located in the Nubian village in southern Egypt about 230 km southwest of Aswan near the borders of Sudan. Photo: Oltau, CC BY 3.0. The gigantic rock temple of Ramses II in Abu Simbel is located right on the banks of Lake Nasser, some 15 minutes by taxi from the airport. If you prefer boats, you can go by cruise ship from Aswan through the Lake Nasser. After being lost form civilization for a while, the Abu Simbel Temples was rediscovered in 1813 by Swiss explorer John Lewis Burckhardt. The temple of Abu Simbel was built during the reign of Ramesses II and the temple is actually two separate temples through which king Ramesses II wanted to immortalize his love to his most beloved wife “Nefertari”.. Abu Simbel is an ancient temple complex, originally cut into a solid rock cliff, in southern Egypt and located at the second cataract of the Nile River. They were commissioned by Ramesses II, the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt, who is often regarded as the greatest and the most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom. This statue has never seen sunlight in more than 3,200 years. The Abu Simbel Temples are located in the Aswan region of Upper Egypt not far from the Sudan border. Abu Simbel temples is situated 3½ km south of Abu Simbel. Although significantly smaller than the first, it was built to honor Ramses' favorite wife, Nefertari. The fourth statue remains in darkness because it represents Ptah, the god of darkness. The four statues guarding the doorway to the larger of these temples are the largest sculptures that survive from the ancient Pharaonic era. Endangered by the erection of the Aswan High Dam in the mid-20th century, the temples were disassembled and reconstructed on higher ground. 1. In 1964, a massive relocation operation was initiated and involved specialists drawn from many countries including archeologists, heavy machine operators, and engineers all who worked under the UNESCO banner. The temples were also meant to showcase Egyptian religious superiority to its neighbors. The Abu Simbel Temple consists of two huge temples (the Great Temple and the Small Temple) that were carved into the mountainside. Visit the old Bibleotheca Alexandrina and e, Waft along the fabled River Nile in time-honored Egyptian style on a private 60-minute 'felucca' boat ride in Cairo. According to some scholars, work on the Abu Simbel Temple began around 1264 BC. The Abu Simbel Temples were constructed during the rule of Pharaoh Ramesses II in around 1264 BCE. Commissioned by King Ramses II between1290 and 1224 BC, in what must be one of the greatest demonstrations of narcissism in history, the gargantuan rock cut temple was built as a … If you are planning to visit Abu Simbel, check in with the Cairo and Aswan as they both offer daily flights to Abu Simbel. ). The entrance to the Great Temple is flanked by four colossal statues on its facade, 20 m statues, each one representing Ramesses II seated on a throne. The Magic of Abu Simbel A Temple Fit For a King. The relocation process was on an unprecedented scale with the entire process costing over $40 million and involved the dismantling of the temples into 20-ton blocks and reassembling them. The city was, like the Temple of Abu Simbel, relocated onto higher ground due to the flooding caused by the filling of the reservoir. The rock temples are located in the south of Egypt. The great temple of Ramesses II is dedicated to Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah and is a well-preserved temple in which Ramesses II decided to prepare … The Abu Simbel Temples are located at Abu Simbel, a small village of Aswan in Upper Egypt near the border with Sudan on the western bank of Lake Nasser. In the ‘60s, the entire Abu Simbel temple complex was cut into large blocks, dismantled, moved and reassembled further away from the Nile to avoid it being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser. Strolling through the garden will take y, The Abu Simbel Temples is the most famous in all of Egypt after the Giza Pyramids, dedicated to Ramses II and his wif, Philae Temple one of the most picturesque in all of Egypt. The operation involved placing the temples on high ground over 200 feet above the original site. Southern Egypt, at the second cataract of the Nile, close to the Sudanese border. In 1813 a Swiss explorer Burckhardt rediscovered the site of the temples and was reportedly led to the location by a young local boy known as Abu Simbel. Aptly named Sun Festival, the central chamber of the temple is illuminated by the sun. The “Small Temple” is not that small. Giovanni later traveled to the site in 1817 and excavated the sand from the temple (some historians believe Giovanni also looted the temples). Abu Simbel is located in South Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser, 290km southwest of Aswan. Twice a year, people from around the world gather at the Temples of Abu Simbel to celebrate the ancient Egyptians and all that they accomplished. The smaller, but almost as impressive temple was dedicated to Neferthari, the Pharaoh’s chief wife and the god Hathor. It took almost five years to finish the relocation. Local legend has it that the temples were named after a local boy who led the first European explorers to the site in the early 19th century. From the entrance of the UNESCO World Heritage site, you will have to take a concrete path of about 300 meters down to the actual temple. The Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock-cut temples at Abu Simbel, a village in Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt, near the border with Sudan. The extreme south to be precise, because the border with Sudan is not far … The nearest city, Wadi Halfa, is located 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Abu Simbel in Sudanese territory, on the east bank of Lake Nubia, the Sudanese name of Lake Nasser. the site of Abu Simbel is famous for two rock-cut temples built during the reign of Ramses II. The rock-cut façade of the temple is decorated with two groups of colossi that are separated by the large gateway. It included cutting the temples into pieces between 3 to 20 tons in weight and reassembling them precisely as they were at the new site. The twin temples were built to serve as a lasting monument to the king and his queen Nefertari, and commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh. The two temples which comprise the site were created during the reign of Ramesses II (c. 1279 - c. 1213 BCE) either between 1264 - 1244 BCE or 1244-1224 BCE. © 2021 Copyright to Luxor and Aswan Travel, Block of Mohamed Sharkawy-Hilto Street, Al Karnak, Luxor, Egypt. The history of Abu Simbel Temple and where it is located in Egypt. The Abu Simbel temples are two huge rock temples perched high on the western banks of Lake Nasser in the village of Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel is a site located 280 km south of Aswan on the banks of Nile.It was one of the most populated and agriculturally productive regions of Ancient Egypt. The temples of Abu Simbel is, without doubt, one of the most fascinating places in Egypt.Its rock-cut temples, with their colossal statues at the entrance, are of impressive beauty.It is difficult to explain with words the first impression when you get to this fascinating place.. 1. The final room, the sanctum sanctorum, remains in darkness every day except two days a year. 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