"Abu Simbel" a Temple of Abu Simbel Travel Page by MM212

One of Egypt's most impressive sites, Abu Simbel is unforgettable. Its two temples were built in the 13th century BC by Ramses II, one dedicated to himself and the gods Horus, Amun and Ptah, and another dedicated to his wife Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. The temples had the double purpose of equating the Pharaoh and his wife with the gods, while intimidating the Nubians further south. The Temples' location at the southern frontier of Ancient Egypt and the Nile's passage into Nubia meant that a traveller's first sight in Egypt was the four impressive colossi of the Great Ramses.

Today, the Temples are located near the Sudanese border in the southernmost part of modern Egypt, overlooking Lake Nasser. They were originally located lower down the hill in an area now submerged by the lake. While the High Dam near Aswan was being built, the temples were rescued and reconstructed with incredible precision at their current location. The rescue project itself was as much of an engineering marvel as the original construction of the temples some 3300 years ago under the orders of Ramses the Great.

Egypt December 2007 Itinerary:
Cairo - Saqqara - Pyramids of Giza; Luxor - Karnak - Necropolis of Thebes; Aswan - Philae - Kalabsha; Abu Simbel; Cairo again.