4Temple of Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel, located in southern Egypt near the border with Sudan, is perhaps one of the most iconic ancient Egyptian temples. Built by Ramses II in the 13th century BCE, the temple was carved out of a mountainside and features four colossal statues of the Pharaoh himself seated in front of the entrance.
The sheer scale of Abu Simbel is what makes it so awe-inspiring. The massive statues, standing 20 meters tall, are flanked by smaller figures representing Ramses’ family, while the interior of the temple is adorned with intricate carvings and reliefs depicting Ramses’ military victories and his deification. One of the most remarkable aspects of Abu Simbel is the way it was designed to align with the sun so that, twice a year, sunlight penetrates the temple and illuminates the statues of the gods inside.
In the 1960s, Abu Simbel was relocated to higher ground to avoid flooding from the construction of the Aswan High Dam, an engineering feat that preserved this magnificent temple for future generations.
