Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is a pair of rock-cut temples in southern Egypt, commissioned by Ramesses II and relocated in the 1960s to protect them from Lake Nasser.
Ramesses II: Ramesses II was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty who ruled from about 1279 to 1213 BCE. He commissioned both temples during his reign.
Great Temple of Ramesses II: The Great Temple of Ramesses II is the larger Abu Simbel temple, fronted by four colossal seated statues of the pharaoh. Its façade and inner sanctuary are the most recognizable parts of the site.
New Kingdom of Egypt: The New Kingdom was the period of ancient Egyptian history from about 1550 to 1070 BCE, marked by imperial expansion. Abu Simbel was built during the New Kingdom’s 19th Dynasty.
International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia: The International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia was a UNESCO-led effort to rescue archaeological sites threatened by the Aswan High Dam. Its international fundraising and coordination enabled Abu Simbel’s rescue.
Nubia: Nubia is a historical region along the Nile, south of ancient Egypt, extending through present-day southern Egypt and Sudan. Abu Simbel stood in ancient Nubia, near Egypt’s southern frontier.
Temple of Hathor and Nefertari: The Temple of Hathor and Nefertari is the smaller Abu Simbel temple, dedicated to Hathor and Queen Nefertari. Its façade gives Nefertari statues a scale comparable to the king’s.
Ancient Egyptian religion: Ancient Egyptian religion comprised the gods, rituals, beliefs, and institutions practiced in ancient Egypt. The temples’ dedications and sacred images belong to this religious tradition.
UNESCO: UNESCO is the United Nations agency responsible for international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. UNESCO organized the campaign to save Nubian monuments threatened by the reservoir.
Rock-cut architecture: Rock-cut architecture is construction formed by carving rooms, façades, or monuments directly into natural rock. Both temples were carved into a sandstone cliff rather than assembled from blocks.
Solar alignment: Solar alignment is the deliberate orientation of a structure to admit sunlight at particular times or along a chosen axis. The Great Temple’s axis directs sunlight toward its inner sanctuary on selected days.