Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel Temples: Finally, a 5-hour round trip by car to see the famous temples carved out of rock at Abu Simbel. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II who ruled 67 yrs. Built in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his Queen Nefertari, they commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh, and meant to intimidate his Nubian neighbors. The structures was relocated in 1968 to an artificial hill made from a domed structure above the Aswan High Dam reservoir. The relocation of the temples was necessary to avoid their being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, formed after the building of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River. Security Escort: Abu Simbel is currently inaccessible to foreigners traveling on their own from Aswan due to police security concerns. Travelers are only able to access Abu Simbel in police escorted convoys (private car, van, or minibus) twice a day. As an American, I had to have a police officer seated directly in my car.

A Great Pharaoh Who Knew It: Construction of the the Great Temple lasted for about 20 years. Known as the Temple of Ramses, beloved by Amun. it was one of six rock temples erected in Nubia during the long reign of Ramses II. Historians suggest that the design of Abu Simbel demonstrates the ego of the ruler as well as pride in the power of the pharaoh. Four colossal statues of the pharaoh with the double Atef crown of Upper and Lower Egypt decorate the façade of the temple, which is topped by a frieze with 22 baboons, worshippers of the sun and considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians.

Temple of Nefertari: The small temple at Abu Simbel is dedicated to Nefertari and Hathor, an ancient Egyptian goddess. Nefertari, also known as Nefertari Merytmut, was one of the principal wives of Ramses the Great. Her name means beautiful companion; Meritmut means beloved of Mut, a goddess.

Just behind the Hypostyle Hall is a small chamber with images of Hathor represented as a cow framed in reeds.

The capitals of the pillars in Hypostyle Hall in Nefertari's temple bear the face of the goddess Hathor, wife of the sun god.

Ramses presenting flowers in Nefertari's temple.

Hathor extolling Nefertari.

Hathor in Nefertari's temple.

Ramses striking the enemy in Nefertari's temple.

One of the eight Osirid pillars bearing the deified Ramses II in the shape of Osiris in the Great Hall of Pillars in the larger temple at Abu Simbel.

A fertile Ramses presenting offerings.

The sanctuary, the rearmost point of the temple, contains four seated statues of Ptah, Amun-Re, Ramesses II and Ra-Harakhte. This temple is unique because the rising sun illuminates the sanctuary and the seated statues of the gods two days a year.

Ramses at the Battle of Kadesh. The battle of Kadesh (1274 BC) took place between the forces of the Egyptian Empire under Ramesses II and the Hittite Empire under Muwatalli II at the city of Kadesh on the Orontes River, in what is now Syria. The conflict was finally concluded by an official peace treaty inscribed on a silver tablet. A clay copy survived in the Hittite capital of Hattusa in modern Turkey and is on display at the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. Tablet constitutes the first recorded peace treaty.

An image in the second hall of the larger temple depicts Ramses with his wife on the boat of Amun, granting them life together after death.

Ramses slaying his enemies.

Ramses the warrior.

Holding that all-important symbol.

The unfinished obelisk is the largest known ancient obelisk and is located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt in Aswan. Workmen began carving it directly out of bedrock, but cracks appeared in the granite and the project was abandoned.

Don't wear a suite at the Old Cataract.