Celebrations in Aswan rejoice sun perpendicularity on Abu Simbel temple

CAIRO – 22 February 2018: Artistic celebrations were held Wednesday to mark the sun perpendicularity on Abu Simbel temple.

At least 15 Egyptian and international artistic troupes performed their shows before the guests and audiences during the event.

Artistic troupes from Greece, Tunisia, China, Thailand, Kenya, and India, along with Ethiopia, chosen as a guest of honor, took part in the event.

Minister of Culture Inas Abdel Dayem and Aswan governor Magdi Hegazi were present.

On February 22, a day celebrating the king's birthday and again on October 22, a day celebrating his coronation, sunlight illuminates seated statues of the sun gods Re-Horakhte and Amon-Re, as well as a statue of king Ramses II. The statues sit in the company of the Theban god of darkness, Ptah (who remains in the shadows all year).