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Abu Simbel Temple
The Abu Simbel Temple is one of such wonders of the world, which are located in southern Egypt, near the border of Sudan, on the right bank of the largest Egyptian river – the Nile. Chiselled under Pharaoh Ramses II in the thirteenth century BC, it symbolises a grand achievement in artistic and architectural history as well as the intentions of one of Egypt’s royal legends. Rameses II ordered the construction of the temple for the gods, Amun, Ra-Horakhty and Ptah and for the portrayal of his military triumphs that placed him into the rank of deity worth emulating.
Abu Simbel consists of two temples carved directly into the mountainside: to the Great Temple, and a second, albeit comparatively diminutive temple to the goddess Hathor, and to the king’s beloved queen, Nefertari. The highlight of the Great Temple is the four statues of Ramses II his statues which are over Twenty meters high with great workmanship depicted on the face. These huge statues stand at the gate showing his power and the marvel of the architect of the ancient world. It has a lot of insides decorated with monuments of Ramses and his victories, especially the battle with the troops of Kadesh. These carveings had two functions; worship and praise to the gods and depiction of Ramses as a successful and nearly divine political leader.
Its story most interesting element is the fact that it was moved from its original position. In the early sixties during construction of the Aswan High Dam, the temple was in danger of being flooded by waters rising in Lake Nasser. UNESCO undertook the complex rescue operation during which every block composing the whole complex was sliced and then floated out of water on to safer parts of the valley. This monumental act of civil engineering helped to save Abu Simbel, the great monument, for subsequent generations from drowning in water. The move itself has become one of the largest salvage operations in the history of archaeology, proof of the worldwide interest in this ancient civilization.
Presently, visitors from all over the world flock the site for tourist purposes, history, and the nice structure of the building. Once in the year, specifically in March 20 and September 22, a rare phenomenon of providing light to the sanctum sanctorum of this temple occurs, where statues of Ramses and gods are located which once more was designed by Egyptians skillfully. This solar event is believed to be celebrated at the birthday and coronation day of Ramses which gives an otherworldly air about the temple.
The temple of Abu Simbel is a great example of the ancient Egyptian construction activity and monumental personality of Ramses II. It brings the far past closer to the present day, and enables today’s audiences to get a brief feel of Egypt’s spiritual and artistic culture in which art, religion and politics came alive in the most splendid way.
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