Ancient site · Aswan
Abu Simbel Temples
Two colossal rock-cut temples in Nubia, built by Ramesses II for himself and his queen Nefertari, with four giant statues of the king guarding the Great Temple's facade.
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The story
Ramesses II of the 19th Dynasty had the two temples carved into the sandstone cliff in the 13th century BC, with the work commonly placed at about 20 years between roughly 1264 and 1244 BC. The Great Temple is dedicated to Ra-Horakhty and other state gods and to the deified king himself, and four seated statues of Ramesses, each about 20 metres tall, guard its entrance; the smaller temple honours the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari. Reliefs inside the Great Temple celebrate the Battle of Kadesh. When the Aswan High Dam threatened to flood the site, a UNESCO-led international campaign cut both temples into blocks and moved them to higher ground between 1964 and 1968, and the relocated complex was inaugurated on 22 September 1968. Today they form part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, inscribed in 1979.
Good to know
- Each of the four seated statues on the Great Temple's facade stands about 20 metres tall.
- The Small Temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and to Nefertari, the beloved chief wife of Ramesses II.
- Twice a year, around 22 February and 22 October, sunrise light reaches the inner sanctuary of the Great Temple and illuminates the seated statues at the back, except Ptah, who remains in shadow.
- During the relocation the temples were raised about 65 metres higher and rebuilt beneath an artificial hill supported by concrete domes.
- Sand buried most of the Great Temple's facade for centuries; Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt noticed the site in 1813, and Giovanni Belzoni's team reopened the entrance in 1817.
Visiting tips
Winter (roughly November to February) is the most comfortable season, as summer heat is extreme, and an early start rewards you with softer morning light on the facade and thinner crowds. The desert road from Aswan takes about three hours each way and most visitors spend around two hours on site; flying is an alternative that saves time. Wear light cotton, a hat and comfortable shoes, and bring a warm layer in winter, since the wind off Lake Nasser can feel cold. Photography rules inside the Great Temple, convoy timings and ticket prices change, so check before visiting; the evening sound and light show can be added when it is running.