9 Surprising Facts About the Abu Simbel Temples
The most fascinating fact about the Abu Simbel Temples is that they were completely dismantled and moved to a new location in the 1960s. This incredible feat of engineering, led by UNESCO, saved the ancient monuments from being submerged by the rising waters of Lake Nasser after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The temples were meticulously cut into large blocks and reassembled 65 metres higher and 200 metres further inland from their original site.
1. Built by Egypt's Greatest Pharaoh
The twin temples were commissioned by Pharaoh Ramesses II, who reigned from 1279 to 1213 BCE. Construction began around 1264 BCE and took approximately 20 years to complete. The larger temple was dedicated to Ramesses II himself and the sun gods Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty, while the smaller temple honoured his chief wife, Queen Nefertari, and the goddess Hathor.
2. A Display of Power
Ramesses II built the temples in Nubia, a region south of Egypt, to demonstrate Egyptian might and influence. The four colossal statues of the pharaoh at the entrance to the Great Temple, each standing around 20 metres (66 feet) tall, were designed to intimidate Egypt's southern rivals and solidify his divine status.
3. Lost to the Sands of Time
After the decline of the ancient Egyptian empire, the temples were gradually abandoned and eventually became buried by desert sand. They were hidden from the world for centuries until their rediscovery in 1813 by a Swiss explorer named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. The first person to enter the sealed Great Temple in modern times was the Italian explorer Giovanni Battista Belzoni in 1817.
4. An Extraordinary Feat of Ancient Engineering
The temples are a marvel of ancient astronomy and engineering. The Great Temple was precisely oriented so that twice a year, on approximately February 22nd and October 22nd, the sun's rays penetrate the inner sanctuary. This solar alignment illuminates the statues of Amun-Ra, Ramesses II, and Ra-Horakhty, leaving only the statue of Ptah, the god of darkness, in shadow. These dates are believed to correspond to the king's coronation and birth.
5. A Monumental Rescue Operation
The construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s created Lake Nasser, threatening to submerge Abu Simbel forever. In an unprecedented international collaboration, UNESCO launched a campaign to save the temples. The project, which ran from 1964 to 1968, was one of the most challenging archaeological engineering feats in history.
6. The Great Move: A Giant Puzzle
To move the temples, they were carefully cut into over 1,000 massive blocks, some weighing up to 30 tons each. These blocks were then painstakingly reassembled on higher ground, set within a specially constructed artificial mountain. The total cost of the project was about $40 million at the time, equivalent to nearly $400 million today.
7. A Rare Tribute to a Queen
The Small Temple, dedicated to Queen Nefertari, is a remarkable monument in its own right. Unusually for Egyptian art, the statues of the queen on the facade are the same height as those of her husband, Ramesses II, standing at 10 metres (33 feet). This signifies the great respect and affection the pharaoh had for his chief wife.
8. One Colossus Fell in Antiquity
Visitors today will notice that one of the four giant statues of Ramesses II at the Great Temple is missing its upper half. This is not damage from the relocation project. The head and torso of the statue collapsed during an ancient earthquake, long before the temples' modern rediscovery, and the fragments were left at the feet of the statue in its new location.
9. A World Heritage Site
In recognition of their outstanding universal value and the incredible international effort to preserve them, the Abu Simbel temples were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 as part of the “Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae”.
Frequently asked questions
Why did they move the Abu Simbel Temples?
The Abu Simbel Temples were moved between 1964 and 1968 to save them from being flooded by the rising waters of Lake Nasser, which was created by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
How tall are the statues at Abu Simbel?
The four colossal seated statues of Ramesses II at the entrance to the Great Temple are each approximately 20 metres (66 feet) high. The statues of Queen Nefertari and Ramesses II on the Small Temple are about 10 metres (33 feet) tall.
What is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival?
The Abu Simbel Sun Festival occurs twice a year, around February 22nd and October 22nd, when the rising sun's rays enter the Great Temple and illuminate the statues in its innermost sanctuary. This event celebrates an incredible feat of ancient architectural and astronomical alignment.
Ready to witness this marvel of ancient and modern engineering? You can book tickets to explore the temples or join one of our guided tours for an in-depth experience.