Fun facts about Aswan's Abu Simbel Temple

CAIRO – 31 October 2021: Abu Simbel Temple was constructed by the most celebrated Ancient Egyptian king Ramses II. The process of construction began in Aswan.

The temple was mainly cut into a solid rock cliff. The main goal behind construction was to celebrate the victory of Ramses II that was established during the Hittites at Kadish battle in 1274 B.C.

The temple was dedicated to a number of ancient Egyptian gods such as Ra-Horakhty, Ptah, and Amon.

Abu Simbel complex mainly contains two main temples:

The Grand Temple that stands 30 meters high and 35 meters long featuring four seated colossi at the entrance of King Ramses II on his throne.

It also contains a number of paths and rooms. Scripts could be found written on the walls about Ramses’ II military victories, his personal life alongside portrayals of Ancient Egyptian gods.

The Small Temple was constructed for the Egyptian Queen Nefertari, Ramses II most favorite wife.

Located 150 meters far away from the Grand Temple, the Small Temple has a front featuring four great seated colossi, two of Ramses II and two of Nefertari.

The walls of this temple display images of Ramses and Nefertari while they’re praying to the gods.

It was first explored in 1817 by the early Egyptologist Giovanni Battista Belzoni, then Swiss researcher Johann Ludwig Burckhardt managed to further explore the temples.

The Solar alignment over the Grand temple is one of the Ancient Egypt phenomenons.

The rays of the sun penetrate into the temple and lightening the three statues for Ramses II and Amon twice a year; once in February 22 celebrating agriculture and cultivation season, and the second in October 22 celebrating flooding season. Both dates also reflect the date of Ramses II birth and his coronation.

The location of the four statues was chosen so they would darken because Ptah was the god of darkness.

In 1964, the Egyptian government has cooperated with UNESCO and decided to move the temples saving them from Nile Water due to High Dam.

The phenomenon of the solar alignment on the Holy of Holies in the Temple of Ramses II in Abu Simbel occurs twice every year on February 22 and October 22, as the sun’s rays penetrate the front corridor of the entrance of the Temple of Ramses II with a length of 200 meters until it reaches the Holy of Holies.