LOCATION
Abu Simbel is located south of Aswan
on the western bank of the Nile, 180
km south of the first cataract in
what was Nubia.
What is Abu Simbel?
Abu Simbel is a set of two temples.
It was built for the pharaoh Ramses
II who reigned for 67 years during
the 13 th century before Jesus Christ
in ancient Nubia, where he wants to
demonstrate its power and divine nature.
The temple was cut out of the sandstone
cliffs above the river Nile.
The Grand Temple
The Grand Temple is dedicated to Ramses
II and a statue of him is sitting
with three other gods in the intimate
part of the rock-cut temple (the shrine).
The temple d 'facade is dominated
by four giant statues of seated Pharaoh
(each over 20 meters)
The small temple
The small temple was probably ahead
of the Grand Temple and is dedicated
to Ramses 'favorite wife, Nefertari.
At the entrance six stand 10 meters
high (33 feet) rock-cut statues -
two of Ramses and Nefertari one on
each side of the door, but one was
damaged since the dawn of time.
Things to see Abu
Simbel
Sunk relief of God
Hapy
At Abu Simbel, below the headquarters
of one of the colossal statues of
Ramses II, is cast the help of God
Hapy, the personification of the flooding
of the Nile. The figure of Hapy appears
twice, tying the stems of plants around
the hieroglyph for unite. The extent
of each foot Hapy figure is based
on the hieroglyph of a lung from which
a duty projects trachea, forming a
T at the top. The central image of
the trachea and lung flanked by two
figures illustrate Hapy Egyptian interests
of balance and order. The pictogram
of Ramses II is located directly above
the trachea and lungs.
The Temple of Hathor
Abu SimbelThe Temple of Hathor at
Abu Simbel was built by Ramesses II
as a mark of respect for both Hathor,
the goddess of love and music and
his wife Nefertari, the queen deified.
The facade, which looks like a pylon,
has six standing massive (10 meters
high) statues. On each side of the
entrance, two statues of Ramses side
of the statue of Nefertari dressed
as Hathor. These statues are in turn
flanked by small statues of their
children.
HOW TO REACH
The temples can be reached by road,
air or boat. Arriving by boat is produced
by Cruise's Aswan High Dam on 3-day
trip.
PROPERTY FACILITIES
Incredible but true: Sound and light
is placed on tourists to visit Abu
Simbel in the evening. This includes
projections on the two temples showing
how they once would have been in their
former splendour. The program is presented
in a number of languages available
to the earphones.
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