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The Temples of Abu Simble
 The
Temples of Abu
Simbel are amongst the most interesting
Pharaonic Temples. Located close to the
southern border with the Sudan, it is 280 km
south of Aswan and consists of two, rock-cut
Temples, which both date back to the reign
of King Ramses II (1290-1223 BC).
Unfortunately these unique Temples suffered
from the raising water of Lake Nasser while
the High Dam was being built. Other
countries, with the help of UNESCO, assisted
Egypt to help save them.
The two Temples were cut
in to many pieces, and then they were
reconstructed again on a site 65m higher
than the original location, and 200m back
inland, to escape the rising water level.
This great rescue
operation began in June 1964 and finished in
September 1968.
The first Temple was
built by King Ramses II and is dedicated to
the God Re-Hor-Akhty, Amon, Ptah, and King
Ramses II as a deified King.
Its façade is 35m long and 30m high. The
façade has four seated colossi of the King;
each one is 20m tall and represents the King
seated on his throne wearing the double
crown, accompanied by 3 small figures of his
wives, daughters and sons flanking his legs.
Above the entrance stands
the figure of Re-Hor-Akhty, while near to
the summit of the façade there are number of
baboons.
Inside the Temple
there is a hall, supported by Osirid shaped
pillars which were
cut into the rock, with walls that are
decorated by battle and offering scenes.
There are some side rooms leading from the
hall, which are also decorated with various
scenes. At the far end of the Temple is the
sanctuary, which contains four statues; Re-Hor-Akhty,
Amon-Re, Ptah and the deified Ramses II.
Here are some pictures of
the interior scenes of the Temple:
*Click on the thumbnail to enlarge
The
Temple of Nefertari
The Temple of
Queen Nefertari is located 120m from the
Temple of Ramses II and was also built by
Ramses II, dedicated to the Goddess Hathor
and to his wife Queen Nefertari. Queen
Nefertari was the principal, and the most
beloved, wife of King Ramses II. It is also
a rock-cut Temple with a façade of about 28m
long and 12m high, which contains 6 standing
colossi, each one being about 11m in height.
Four of them represent Ramses II and the
other two represent Queen Nefertari, each is
accompanied by two smaller figures of their
children.
The entrance
leads to a square hall, which is supported
by 6 Hathor-headed pillars decorated with
scenes depicting the King and the Queen
making offerings to different deities.
At the end of
the hall there is a doorway leading to a
transverse vestibule decorated with scenes
of King Ramses II making offering to Re-HorAkhty,
while the Queen is presenting flowers to
Khenum, Sat-tet and Anket.
The Transverse
Hall leads to the Sanctuary, which contains
a niche in the rear wall with a statue of
Goddess Hathor, as a cow, protecting Ramses
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