Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is one of the most awe-inspiring monuments of ancient Egypt, two temples carved into a cliff in the far south by Ramesses the Great, fronted by four colossal seated statues of the pharaoh over twenty metres high. Famously, the entire complex was cut apart and moved to higher ground in the 1960s to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, a landmark UNESCO rescue.

History

Ramesses II built the two temples at the Second Cataract, on the border between Lower and Upper Nubia, to impress Egypt's might on the Nubians, a land valued for its gold; work began around 1264 BC and lasted about 20 years, until 1244 BC, the Great Temple dedicated to Ramesses himself and the Small Temple to his chief wife Nefertari. The temples fell out of use, and by the 6th century BC sand already reached the knees of the great statues; they stayed unknown to Europeans until March 1813, when the Swiss traveller Johann Ludwig Burckhardt found the small temple and the top frieze of the main one. In 1968, as part of the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia, the whole complex was moved to higher ground, out of reach of Lake Nasser behind the Aswan Dam (Wikipedia, Abu Simbel).

Highlights

• The colossal statues - the four giant seated figures of Ramesses.
• The Great Temple interior - the pillared halls carved deep into the rock.
• The Temple of Nefertari - the smaller temple to Ramesses's queen.
• The Sun Festival - the days when sunlight reaches the inner sanctuary.

When to go

October to April for cooler weather; twice a year, in February and October, the rising sun aligns to light the inner sanctuary, drawing crowds. It is remote, reached by an early flight, a long road convoy or a Lake Nasser cruise from Aswan.

What to expect

It is very remote in the far south, so reaching it means an early flight, a long guarded road convoy or a Lake Nasser cruise, making it a long day or overnight from Aswan. It is hot and busy when tour groups arrive. Despite the effort, its scale makes it unforgettable.

Nearby

Aswan, the High Dam and the temple of Philae are to the north; Lake Nasser stretches south.

Key facts