Page 164 - How It Works - Book Of Amazing Answers To Curious Questions, Volume 05-15

What’s the secret

of Abu Simbel?

The incredible tale behind one pharaoh’s tribute to himself

gypt is no stranger to mind-blowing buildings and Ramesses II as well as a number of reliefs that
and temples so it is a great compliment that show Ramesses claiming great victories against his
Ethe Abu Simbel rock temple at Nubia is one of foes. A row of baboon statues line the façade as they
the most visited sites in the country. Built during the were revered as Sun worshippers. The Little Temple Statues
reign of Ramesses II (circa 1279-1213 BCE), the was built to honour the memory of Ramesses’ The statues of the
gods Ramesses II,
construction of the two temples took 20 years to favourite wife Nefertari who later became known as Ptah, Ra-Horakhty
complete. The Great Temple is dedicated to the gods the goddess of fertility and love. It is fronted by and Amun stand
Ra-Horakty and Ptah, but it is Ramesses II that takes statues of Ramesses and Nefertari, while inside are inside the temple.
centre stage. The entrance to the temple is flanked by reliefs that show the couple offering gifts to the gods.
four 20-metre (65-foot) tall statues of Ramesses II that The location of Abu Simbel was very important
tower over the much smaller statues that depict the as well. Nubia was already an important
Pharoah’s family as well as vanquished enemies religious site and Abu Simbel, located at the
such as the Nubians, Hittites and Libyans. Inside the Egyptian-Sudanese border, established it as
Great Temple are statues of Ptah, Ra-Horakhty, Amun definitively Egyptian.

Moving on up Inside Ramesses’ temple
What would you see if you
In 1952 the Egyptian Government visited the Abu Simbel temple?
made the decision to build a dam
after the flood waters of the Nile Reliefs
got too high for the current one. Sculptures on the
However, this would have flooded wall show the heroic
Ramesses fighting
the Abu Simbel temple so the his enemies.
decision was made to move the
entire construction to higher
ground. Between 1963 and 1968
the temple was cut into 10,000 Friends and foes
blocks, each weighing between In between the legs
three and 20 tons. They were then of the statues are much
moved 65 metres (213 feet) higher smaller statues
representing the family
up the mountain and 180 metres and enemies of Ramesses.
(600 feet) to the west to keep it out
of the soon-to-be-flooded area. The
blocks were precisely re-assembled Columns
in exactly the same position as Eight huge
before and secured in place with columns that
concrete. The move cost $42 depict Ramesses
million at the time, which is around winning great
$288 million (£183 million) today, battles hold up
but was essential in preserving a the ceiling.
key part of Egyptian history.
Heading east
As with many religious
buildings Abu Simbel
faces east where is faces
the rising Sun.

Baboons
Baboons were believed
to be Sun-worshippers
so adorn the façade of
the temple.
Fallen idol
The head and torso of the Sitting tall
second Ramesses statue Even though they are
The task of moving the entire temple lies on the ground, having sitting down, the
involved up to 3,000 people broken off following an entrance statues are © DK Images
earthquake. 20m (65ft) tall.

164 How It Works