Abu Simbel: Exploring the Eternal Heritage of Ramses II

Contents

Abu Simbel Temples | Introduction

The Abu Simbel Temples are located in southern Egypt, near the Sudanese border, and were majestically built by Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BCE. Ramses II, one of the most famous pharaohs of Egypt’s 19th Dynasty, ruled for 66 years, making him the longest-reigning pharaoh in Egyptian history. His reign brought a long period of prosperity and stability, often referred to as the “Golden Age” of ancient Egyptian civilization. To showcase his divinity and eternal legacy, Ramses II commissioned numerous temples and monuments, with the Abu Simbel Temples being the most famous among them.

Abu Simbel Temples | Transportation & Itinerary

Since Abu Simbel is located in a remote area of southern Egypt, most tourists travel there from Aswan by car or plane. One-day trips tend to be tight on time, with visitors typically staying in Aswan or traveling by cruise to Aswan. During a stay in Aswan, a day trip can be arranged where a car or a local tour guide will take visitors to Abu Simbel early in the morning.

Aswan Travel Guide: Essential Attractions and Cultural Highlights | Philae Temple | Unfinished Obelisk | Aswan High Dam | Nubian Culture

Tour groups typically arrange transport from Aswan around 4:00 AM to avoid the midday heat. The drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel takes around 3-4 hours, with visitors departing at 4:00 AM and arriving at 8:00 AM. After a 2-3 hour visit, they return to Aswan by the afternoon. There are also domestic flights available from Aswan to Abu Simbel, taking about 45 minutes, though they are more expensive.

In addition to day trips, you can also consider staying overnight near Abu Simbel. The advantage of staying overnight is avoiding the crowds from the day tours. If you visit in the evening or at night, you can also witness the light show, though this requires more time in Abu Simbel. Since there are no other tourist attractions in the surrounding area apart from the temples, most visitors opt for a day trip to save time.

Abu Simbel Temples | Highlights

The Abu Simbel Temples consist of two main structures: the Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Nefertari. These two temples were built side by side, one for Ramses II and the other for his queen, Nefertari. Both temples were constructed by Ramses II to demonstrate his power and authority.

At the entrance, there is a small visitor center showcasing a model of the temple's entrance and documentation of Abu Simbel’s relocation. Like the Philae Temple, Abu Simbel underwent a “great relocation” in the 1960s. Due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the original location of the temple was in danger of being submerged. Therefore, an international effort was launched to dismantle and reassemble the entire temple at its current location.

Upon arrival at Abu Simbel, you can walk down the path, and soon the awe-inspiring temples come into view. Just approaching the entrance of the temple is enough to feel the overwhelming presence of this ancient king.

Great Temple of Ramses II

The core of the Abu Simbel Temples is the magnificent Great Temple of Ramses II, the highlight for all visitors. Carved directly into the rock face, the temple is both imposing and intricately detailed. If you’ve visited other Egyptian sites, you’ll notice Ramses II constructed countless temples, but Abu Simbel is undoubtedly his most famous masterpiece.

The temple's exterior is breathtaking, with four colossal statues of Ramses II towering at 20 meters. Each statue has slight variations in expression and posture, representing the pharaoh’s multiple personas in different contexts. One of the central statues was damaged by an earthquake, with its head and torso collapsed. These fragments remain on-site, becoming part of the temple’s historical narrative.

Ramses II wears the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, symbolizing his supreme authority over the entire land. At his feet are smaller statues of his family members, including his queen Nefertari, his mother Mut-Tuy, and his children, illustrating the importance of the pharaoh's family.

Above the entrance is another must-see detail: the depiction of the sun god Ra in the form of Horus (Ra-Horakhty), symbolizing power and protection. Additionally, atop the temple’s façade are 22 baboon statues. Baboons were considered animals that worshiped the sun in ancient Egypt, aligning with the temple’s orientation toward the sunrise.

Upon entering the temple, you’ll find the interior designed in a typical triangular layout of ancient Egyptian temples, where rooms become smaller as you proceed deeper, emphasizing the progression into sacred space. The first room is the hypostyle hall, featuring eight massive columns. These columns are adorned with statues of Ramses II linked with the god Osiris, symbolizing the pharaoh's eternal life. The statues on the left wear the white crown of Upper Egypt, while those on the right wear the double crown, reinforcing his rule over all of Egypt.

The walls around the hypostyle hall depict scenes of the pharaoh interacting with various deities, showing his role not just as a ruler but as a representative of the gods on earth.

The temple walls are also filled with carvings of Egypt’s historical events, many depicting Ramses II’s military victories, including his heroic actions in battle. Although faded over time, these reliefs were once brightly colored, and with a little imagination, you can envision the hall in its original grandeur.

One of the most famous reliefs depicts the Battle of Kadesh, where Ramses II is seen in a chariot, bow in hand, heroically leading his troops into battle against the Hittites. Although the battle was actually a stalemate, the carvings immortalize the pharaoh as a victor.

Moving deeper into the temple, you reach the second hypostyle hall. Here, the reliefs focus on the pharaoh and the gods in ritualistic scenes, including Ramses and Nefertari making offerings to the sun god and other deities.

Smaller rooms off the hall feature more wall carvings, with intricate designs even adorning the ceilings.

At the temple’s innermost point lies the sanctuary, which contains four seated statues: Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah, and the deified Ramses II. Ramses sits alongside these gods, signifying his divine status. The temple’s design aligns in such a way that twice a year, on October 22 and February 22, sunlight penetrates the temple and illuminates the statues, except for the god Ptah, who is associated with the underworld and remains in shadow. Many gather on these days to witness this unique phenomenon. While the exact significance of these dates is debated, some suggest they correspond to Ramses’ birthday and coronation day. However, due to the temple’s relocation, the alignment may no longer be perfectly accurate, making the original meaning harder to determine.

Temple of Hathor and Nefertari

Ramses II had many wives and children, but his affection for his first queen, Nefertari, was unparalleled. To honor her importance, Ramses built a temple dedicated specifically to her beside his own temple. This was highly unusual in ancient Egypt, as queens typically did not have their own temples. Nefertari’s name means “The Beautiful Companion,” which not only described her appearance but also her esteemed position as the pharaoh's most important consort. She was involved in diplomatic affairs and played a significant role in Egyptian politics. Ramses II even referred to her as "the one for whom the sun shines."

At Abu Simbel, the Temple of Nefertari is located about 100 meters from Ramses II’s temple. Its façade features six colossal statues, four of Ramses II and two of Nefertari, all of equal size. This is a notable departure from the typical Egyptian convention where statues of queens were much smaller, usually only reaching the pharaoh’s knees (as seen in the statues outside the Great Temple). The equality in size reflects Ramses’ deep respect for Nefertari and symbolizes their equal status within this sacred space. Beneath the large statues are smaller carvings of their children, arranged dutifully at their parents' feet.

Upon entering the temple, visitors are greeted by a columned hall where the columns feature Hathor, the goddess of love, music, and motherhood. These "Hathor-headed" columns align with the temple’s dedication to Hathor, who represents not only love and music but also Nefertari’s divine role. The hall features similar scenes to those in Ramses’ temple, including depictions of the pharaoh defeating his enemies, with Nefertari at his side, reinforcing her significance in these monumental moments.

The temple walls are filled with mythological and ritualistic scenes, especially those showing Nefertari alongside Hathor, signifying her divine status.

The hall leads to a smaller vestibule with three doors that lead to the innermost sanctuaries. Here, the carvings show Ramses and Nefertari making offerings to the gods together. One notable relief on the north and south walls depicts Ramses and Nefertari offering papyrus to Hathor, who is depicted as a sacred cow emerging from a mountain, a poetic and symbolic image.

Hathor, often depicted with cow horns and a solar disk, frequently appears in the temple's carvings, while the western wall shows Ramses II and Nefertari making offerings to deities like Horus, Satis, Anubis, and Khnum in vivid detail.

The sanctuary and two side rooms are aligned perfectly along the temple’s main axis. On the sanctuary’s main wall, a relief shows Hathor emerging in cow form from the mountains, signifying her guardianship over the temple and her divine connection to Nefertari, highlighting their shared sacred roles.

Abu Simbel Temples | Introduction

Abu Simbel Temples | Transportation & Itinerary

Abu Simbel Temples | Highlights

Great Temple of Ramses II

Temple of Hathor and Nefertari

Further reading