Today the temples of Abu Simbel, which were originally carved out of a mountainside in the 13th century to honor an Egyptian pharaoh, are open to the public for guided and self-guided tours.
The Abu Simbel temples were built by pharaoh Ramses II during his reign in the 13th century BC and represent the ambition of Ramses and the beginning of modern engineering.
The complex and its two temples took a total of 20 years to complete, though the start date is up for dispute, and are dedicated entirely to the gods Ra-Horakty, Ptah, Ramesses II, the goddess Hathor, and Queen Nefertari (Ramesses’ wife).
The Great Temple, the one dedicated to Ramses II, is considered the main temple and stands 98 feet tall and boasts four seated colossi at the entrance.
Head through the entrance and you’ll find yourself standing in the inner temple, an area decorated with elegant engravings which pays homage to the gods. The second temple, known as the Small Temple, is located nearby and stands just 40 feet high.
This temple is dedicated to Ramesses’ wife Nefertari and the carvings inside depict the pair making offerings to the gods.
In 1960 both temples had to be moved from their original resting place due to flooding in the previous location. They were lifted to the current site by a team of international UNESCO workers who tirelessly transported each and every piece of the temples (after a worldwide appeal) to protect them from the rising waters of the nearby Aswan High Dam.
Today the temples sit safely 60 meters high above the cliff where they once stood.
