ASWAN DAY TOUR ABU SIMBEL BY AIR

The two temples of Abu Simbel are considered among the most famous, impressive monuments in the world not only because of their historical importance, colossal scale and architectural perfection but also for the huge project of removing and reconstructing them. Abu Simbel temples (280 km south of Aswan) were built by the great pharaoh Ramesses II (between about 1260-1240 B.C.); the Great Temple, originally cut into the rock and dedicated to the creator gods of the time Amun-Re, Re-Horakhty, Ptah and the deified version of Ramesses II himself while the Small temple, also originally cut into the rock, was dedicated to goddess Hathor and the deified version of his dearest wife, Queen Nefertari. The Great Temple is 30m high, 35m wide and 56m deep with 4 colossal statues of Ramesses II (20m high) in front of the temple. Every year on October 22 and February 22 the sun rays penetrate the sanctuary and illuminate the statues of Amun-Re Re-Horakhty but not that of Ptah as he is connected with the underworld. It is believed that these dates correspond to the king’s birthday and coronation day.

The Small Temple has statues of the king and queen of the same size which is exceptional in ancient Egyptian art.

The construction of the High Dam would have threatened the temples of Abu Simbel and other temples because of the artificial Lake Nasser behind the dam, so there was an international donations campaign led by UNESCO and the entire site was dismantled and reassembled in a new location which is 65m higher and 200m back from the lake and also maintaining the solar phenomena of the Great Temple