Abu Simbel

Attribution:

little-prince[ Non si vede bene che col cuore*]

ASwan

Egypt

Key Dates

constructed over a period of twenty years, between 1244 BC and 1224 BC, the temple complex of Abu Simbel was forgotten until 1813. The entire sitewas moved between 1964 and 1968 to save the temples from the rising Nile waters.

Key People

Carved out during the reign of Pharoah Ramesses II, the temples were rediscovered by Swiss explorer JL Buckhardt who was unable to get into them. He talked about his discovery to Italian Giovanni Belzoni, who managed to get inside the temples in 1817 and removed all the valuables and portable items.

290 km south west of Aswan on the bank of Lake Nasser, the two temples were designed as lasting monument to Pharoah Ramesses II and his queen Nefertari. They were built to intimidate the Nubian neighbours and commemorate victory in the Battle of Kadesh. Now relocated to an artificial hill above the Aswan Dam, they contain some of Egypt's most fascinating sculptures and friezes, including an impressive statue of Ptath, god of the underworld.

Admission Fee

35 EGP or 19.50 EGP with a student card.

Related Websites

Essays on Abu Simbel

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