Egypt
Abu Simbel
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Welcome to Egypt! Abu Simbel is a pair of massive temples carved directly out of solid rock, guarded by four enormous statues of Pharaoh Ramesses II gazing out over the desert.
Why is it famous?
Abu Simbel's four seated statues of Pharaoh Ramesses II are each about as tall as a six-story building, carved from the living rock of a cliff.
It's considered one of ancient Egypt's most spectacular monuments, built to show off the pharaoh's power to anyone traveling along the Nile.
How was it built?
Around 3,300 years ago, workers carved the temples directly out of a sandstone mountainside rather than stacking blocks like a pyramid.
In the 1960s, engineers pulled off an incredible rescue: they cut the entire temple into more than 1,000 giant blocks and rebuilt it on higher ground so it wouldn't be flooded by a new dam.
Amazing facts
The temple was built for Ramesses II, and a smaller nearby temple honors his queen, Nefertari.
Twice a year, on special dates, sunlight travels 200 feet into the temple to light up statues deep inside the inner sanctuary.
Quick facts
- The temple was built for Ramesses II, and a smaller nearby temple honors his queen, Nefertari.
- Twice a year, on special dates, sunlight travels 200 feet into the temple to light up statues deep inside the inner sanctuary.
- One of the original four statues was damaged by an earthquake in ancient times and has stayed broken ever since.
- The 1960s relocation project was led by UNESCO and involved teams from many different countries working together.