Abu+Simbel

ABU SIMBEL HISTORY 

The Great Temple at Abu Simbel, was completed around 24th year of the reign of Rameses the Great. It was dedicated to the gods Amun Ra- Harakhty, and Ptah, as well as to Rameses himself. It is generally considered the grandest and the most beautiful of the temples made during the reign of Rameses II. Four colossal 20 meter statues of the pharaoh with the double Atef crown of Upper and Lower Egypt decorate the façade of the temple, which is 35 meters wide and at the top has 22 baboons, worshippers of the sun which flank the entrance. All statues represent Rameses II. There are other statues, smaller than the knees of the pharaoh, these are of Nefertari, Rameses’s chief wife, and also of the queen mother, his two sons, and his first six daughters. The statue of the god Ra Harakhty, is holding the hieroglyph user in his right hand, while Ma’at holds a feather on his left; this is a gigantic cryptogram for Rameses II’s throne name. Another notable feature of the facade is a stella which records the marriage of Rameses with a daughter of king Hattusili III, which sealed the peace between Egypt and the Hittites. The most famous relief shows the king on his chariot shooting arrows against his enemies, who are being taken prisoner. Other scenes show Egyptian victories in Libya and Nubia. From the hypostyle hall, one enters the second hall, which has four pillars decorated with beautiful scenes of offerings to the gods.



CHARACTERISTICS x Construction of the temple complex started in approximately 1244 BCE and lasted for about 20 years, until 1244 BCE. x Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock temples in Abu Simbel in Nubia, southern Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser about 230 km. southwest of Aswan. x The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountain side during the reign of Pharaoh Rameses II in the 13th. Century BC, as a monument to himself and his queen Nefertari, to commemorate his alleged victory at the battle of Kadesh, and to intimidate his Nubian neighbors. x The relocation of the temples was necessary to avoid being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, formed after the building of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River. x Abu Simbel remains one of Egypt ’s top tourist attraction. 

FLOOR PLAN



IMPORTANT PEOPLE AND PLACES x <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Lake Nasser x __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Pharaoh Rameses II __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">: he ruled for 67 years, lived to be 90 years old, had many wives and somewhere between 100 and 200 children. He was a great builder and a famed warrior. x <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Nile River x __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">God Amun __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">: At the height of Egyptians civilization he was called: “kings of the gods” x __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">God Ra Horakhty __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">: “Horus in the horizon”. Was thought of as the god of the rising sun. x __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">God Ptah __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">: God of the craftsmen.

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