The Abu Simbel temples were carved out of rock during the 13th century BC reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II as a monument to himself and his queen after a major victory. The temples were threatened by the rising waters from the Aswan High Dam project, so between 1964-1968 an international effort relocated the massive structures over 200 meters back and 65 meters higher to save them. The temples originally served to impress upon and Egyptianize the local Nubian people, and their impressive statues and carvings commemorate Ramesses II and the Egyptian gods.

1. GREAT TEMPLE AT
ABU SIMBEL

2. INTRODUCTION
• The Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock temples at Abu Simbel a village in
Nubia, Upper Egypt
• The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian
Monuments"

3. HISTORY
• The twin temples were originally carved out of
the mountainside in the 13th century BC,
during the 19th dynasty reign of the Pharaoh
Ramesses II
• They serve as a lasting monument to the king
and his queen Nefertari, and commemorate
his victory at the Battle of Kadesh

4. CONSTRUCTION
• Nubia was very important to the Egyptians because it was a source of gold and
many other precious trade goods
• Ramesses II built several grand temples there in order to impress upon the
Nubians Egypt's might and Egyptianize the people of Nubia
• The most famous temples are the rock-cut temples near the modern village of
Abu Simbel
• Construction of the temple complex started in approximately 1264 BC and lasted
for about 20 years, until 1244 BC

5. ENTRANCE
• The single entrance is flanked by four, colossal, 20 metre
statues, each representing Ramesses II seated on a
throne
• Next to Ramesses's legs are a number of other, smaller
statues, none higher than the knees of the pharaoh
• The façade behind the colossi is 33 metres high, 38
metres wide
• The entrance doorway itself is surmounted by bas-relief
images of the king worshipping Ra Harakhty, whose
statue stands in a large niche

6. Floor plan of the Greater temple
Floor plan of the Small temple

7. INTERIORS
A. The four statues of Ramesses II
B. Entrance
C. Rock cut hall with eight massive pillars
D. Second hall with four decorated pillars
E. Vestibule for offerings
F. Sanctuary with the statues of Ra-
Horakhty, the deified king Ramesses, and
the gods Amun Ra and Ptah
G-K. Store rooms with images of king
L,M. Chapels
N. Stairway to the temple plateau

9. RELOCATION
• The southernmost relics of this ancient human
civilization were under threat from the rising
waters of the Nile that were about to result from
the construction of the Aswan High Dam
• The salvage of the Abu Simbel temples began in
1964 by a multinational team of archaeologists,
engineers and skilled heavy equipment operators

10. RELOCATION
• Between 1964 and 1968, the entire site was carefully
cut into large blocks (up to 30 tons, averaging 20
tons), dismantled, lifted and reassembled in a new
location 65 metres higher and 200 metres back from
the river
• Some structures were even saved from under the
waters of Lake Nasser