Forget about the three Great Pyramids, the Temples of Abu Simbel are the most magnificent monuments in the world!
Located close to the southern border with Sudan, it is 280 km south of Aswan and consists of two, rock-cut Temples (The Temple of King Ramses II & The Temple of Nefertari), which both date back to the reign of King Ramses II (1290-1223 BC).
When the Egyptians decided to build the High Dam in Lake Nasser, the Temples of Abu Simbel were facing the danger of flooding. As the temples are being recognized by the UNESCO, they, and other countries had offered help to save this wonder. The two Temples were cut into many pieces, and then they were reconstructed on a site 65m higher than the original location, and 200m back inland, to escape the rising water level. This great rescue operation began in June 1964 and finished in September 1968.
Why I say King Ramses II is narcissistic?
The first Temple was built by King Ramses II and is dedicated to the God Re-Hor-Akhty, Amon, Ptah, and King Ramses II as a deified King. There are four seated colossi of the King; each one is 20m tall and represents the King seated on his throne wearing the double crown, accompanied by 3 small figures of his wives, daughters and sons flanking his legs in front of the temple to show his power.
Next to the Temple of Ramses II is the Temple of Queen Nefertari which was also built by Ramses II dedicated to the Goddess Hathor and to his most beloved wife. At the front contains 6 standing colossi, each one being about 11m in height. Four of them represent Ramses II again and the other two represent Queen Nefertari, each is accompanied by two smaller figures of their children.
With the Lomo spirit inside me, remembering the 10 golden rules, most importantly – ’Don’t Think, Just Shoot’, I secretly brought my LC-A and took this: