Map To Abu Simbel Near Aswan, Egypt

In 1968 the two speos of Ramesses II and Nefertari were cut into 1,036 sections, straightened, dismantled, and reconstructed on an artificial cliff of a rocky outcrop of the Lybian Mountain which overlooks the Nile River. The original site was completely submerged following the construction of the Aswan High Dam. After the visit to the temples, the tourist will note a small door to the right of the four massive statues of Ramses. Passing through this doorway takes the visitor inside the artificial mountain built to house the temples. This quiet, echoing air-conditioned chamber is perhaps the oddest sight of all at Abu Simbel. Its facade (108 feet high & 125 feet wide) contains four colossal statues of Ramesses II facing the east. The facade of the Temple of Nefertari has the same theme as the royal colossus of Ramesses II, which alternates with statues of his first queen Nefertari, in the guise of Hathor-Satis, and their children. On 22 February and 22 October, of each year, sunlight illuminates each sanctuary of both temples! The temples were built by Rameses II between 1279 and 1213 B.C to celebrate his domination of Nubia, and his piety to the gods, mainly Amun-Re, Ra-Horakhty and Ptah, as well as his own deification. There are some interesting solar alignments that can be observed at the temple. The interior of the temple is inside the sandstone cliff in the form of a man-made cave cut out of the rock. It consists of a series of halls and rooms extending back a total of 185 feet from the entrance. As you walk to the rear of the temple you come to the Holiest of Holies located at the back wall, where you will find four statues of: Ra-Harakhte, Ptah, Amun-Ra and King Ramses II. This temple is unique, since the sun shines directly on the Holiest of Holies on two days of each year: February 21, the king's birthday, and October 22, the date of his coronation. This site is on the United Nations World Heritage Site list.

Back Sanctuary Dedicated To Hathor & Nefertari; With Small Hathor Statues.
The "Small Temple" Of Abu Simbel, Egypt.

Leaving The Bus We Follow A Trail To These Artificial Hills	We Notice A Large Door To Inside Abu Simbel Artificial Mountain
Where Does It Lead? Sure Not Much To See!	Here's What Is Inside! What Is This All About?
Wow! The "Great Temple" Of Abu Simbel On The Other Side Of The Hill!	And The "Small Temple" Of Abu Simbel On The Other Side Of The Hill!
The "Great Temple" Cartouches Of Ramses II At Center	"Small Temple" Or The "Temple Of Hathor Dedicated To Nefertari"
The Six Statues Are Ten Meters Tall Nefertari Is The Only Queen To Be On A Temple Same Size As Pharaoh	Inside Is Simple Interior Dedicated To Hathor With Six Hathor Pillers Back Sanctuary Dedicated To Hathor & Nefertari; Picture Below.
Close Up Of Hathor Pillars	Close Up Of Hathor Pillars

Audrey And Three Of The Colossi Of Ramses II	Boy, These Colossi Are Big! Here's The Head & Chest Of The Second Colossus!	Third Ramses II Colossus With Wife Nefertari
Inside The Great Temple Left Side Of Pronaos With Eight Osiris Pillars	Inside The Great Temple Center Of Pronaos With Sanctuary In Rear	Inside The Great Temple Right Side Of Pronaos With Eight Osiris Pillars
People Cleared Out And We Can See The Pronaos Eight Osiris Pillars Sanctuary In Rear	General View Of Sanctuary	Close Up Ptah, Amun, Deified Ramses II, And Ra
Small Temple Pharaoh Honoring Nefertari Dressed As Hathor	Small Temple A Small Sanctuary In Back	Small Temple Sanctuary, Nefertari Between Statues Of Hathor