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What person is on the 4 statues at Abu Simbel?
Ramesses
Here, on a black wall, are rock cut sculptures of four seated figures: Ra-Horakhty, the deified king Ramesses, and the gods Amun Ra and Ptah. Ra-Horakhty, Amun Ra and Ptah were the main divinities in that period and their cult centers were at Heliopolis, Thebes and Memphis respectively.
What is the significance of Abu Simbel?
The temple was mainly cut into a solid rock cliff. The main goal behind construction was to celebrate the victory of Ramses II that was established during the Hittites at Kadish battle in 1274 B.C. The temple was dedicated to a number of ancient Egyptian gods such as Ra-Horakhty, Ptah, and Amon.
Who are the gods in Abu Simbel?
Abu Simbel temple is dedicated to the worship of Ramesses himself and the great deities of ancient Egypt, Amon, Ra, and Ptah. These three gods were highly revered throughout the history of ancient Egypt.
What monuments are located at Abu Simbel?
This outstanding archaeological area contains such magnificent monuments as the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel and the Sanctuary of Isis at Philae, which were saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the International Campaign launched by UNESCO, in 1960 to 1980.
Who found Abu Simbel?
Carved out of a sandstone cliff on the west bank of the Nile, south of Korosko (modern Kuruskū), the temples were unknown to the outside world until their rediscovery in 1813 by the Swiss researcher Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. They were first explored in 1817 by the early Egyptologist Giovanni Battista Belzoni.
Which Pharaoh ordered the construction of the Abu Simbel?
Ramses II wanted there to be absolutely no question which pharaoh had built the magnificent temple at Abu Simbel. At its entrance, four 60-plus-foot-tall seated statues of him serve as sentries. Dedicated to the sun gods, the temple extends 185 feet into its cliff via a series of three towering halls.
How tall are the statues at Abu Simbel?
As mentioned earlier, the smaller temple at Abu Simbel has, outside its entrance, four statues of pharaoh and two of his bride, Nefertari. Each statue is about 33 feet (10 meters) tall, a buttress in between each of them.
What are two facts about Abu Simbel?
Top 10 Facts about Abu Simbel Temple
- Construction of the temples began in the 13th century.
- Abu Simbel temple was dedicated to the sun gods.
- It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Queen Nefertari was King Ramses II favourite wife.
- The Abu Simbel temple was relocated.
- It was forgotten until the 19th century.
Why is Abu Simbel broken?
To rescue the ancient temples in Abu Simbel from the waters of the Nile, the temples had to be relocated. With the construction of the large Aswan Dam, two ancient temples would be submerged and irreparably damaged.
What is in the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae?
The Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae cover a string of ancient archaeological sites in southern Egypt. They were built by various pharaohs from the 2nd millennium BC onwards in their attempt to gain or retain dominance over the Nubian kingdom and its natural assets such as gold, copper and ivory.
What is inside Abu Simbel?
Built in 1244 B.C., Abu Simbel contains two temples, carved into a mountainside. The larger of the two temples contains four colossal statues of a seated pharaoh Ramesses II (1303-1213 B.C.) at its entrance, each about 69 feet (21 meters) tall.
Can you go inside Abu Simbel?
The temples are covered with statues and engravings of various gods and symbols. You can enter both temples and explore hieroglyphs and sanctuaries inside. There is a lot of history to be taken in so I highly recommend going with a good guide and really paying attention to everything that can be seen at Abu Simbel.