Ancient history in Abu Simbel
Filed Under Egypt
Abu Simbel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the southern area of Egypt. It is home of the temples and structures dedicated to Pharaoh Ramessess II and Queen Nefertiti. This site was originally built for two reasons – first was to impress the gods and the second reason was to prove Egypt’s dominance over their enemies with their capabilities to built massive structures.
There are two temples found in Abu Simbel, the larger temple is dedicated to three gods (Amun, Ptah and Ra-Harakhty). The smaller temple is dedicated to Hathor. The larger temple is more popular because they feature four statues of the great pharaoh, located on the façade of the temple. Each temple features remarkable carvings that practically tell the history of Ancient Egypt as well as their practices.
Aside from the remarkable history of the structures, it’s story of relocation equally remarkable. Because of a nearby dam being constructed during the 60s, the statues have to be disassembled by blocks of up to 30 tons and reassembled on a higher ground. The completion of transfer was done because of worldwide efforts with the cost of more than $40 million.
Tourists can easily visit Abu Simbel because of the presence of a nearby international airport with the same name. The temples are only five to ten minutes away from the airport and transportation to these temples is very accessible.
