Abu Simbel Temple

Facts About Abu Simbel Temple, Egypt

 

Planning to visit Egypt, the first major tourist attraction that comes in minds is the Pyramids. However, there are many other amazing tourist spots in Egypt and one of them is Abu Simbel. These temples are the biggest projects of the ancient monument restoration. In the restoration process of this monument, many countries held hands. This eventually led towards the formation of the World Heritage List by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.

 

 

Abu Simbel actually is two giant temples made out of rocks and present in the Nubia, the southern region of Egypt. According to the archaeologists the temple was built approximately in 1284 Before Christ under the orders of the Pharaoh Ra-messes, the second. Abu Simbel, as explained by the experts was built by the mighty Pharaoh as a monument to his wife Nefertari and himself. The purpose behind this monument was to celebrate the victory in the battle of Kadesh which was fought against the Hittites. The location that he chooses for this temple is actually the southern gateway that leads into the Egypt. This location perfectly advertised his power and might and also down cast his neighbors in Nubia.

 

 

The Abu Simbel holds two temples. One is the Lesser Temple and the other is the Greater Temple. The temple that is referred to as the Greater Temple was actually dedicated to Amun Ra, Ptah and the Ra Harakhti who are the ancient Egyptian deities. The Greater Temple has four enormous statues that are sitting and are as high as twenty meters. All these statues represent the Ramesses II himself. The statues are actually carved out of the rocks where they actually are.

At a distance of about one hundred meters from the Greater Temple situated is the Lesser Temple. The Lesser Temple is actually dedicated to the queen Nefertiti. Apart from that the Lesser Temple is also dedicated to the Hathor, an Egyptian goddess. The statues are carved out of the rocks just like in the Great Temple and are about 10 meters high.

Abu Simbel Temple