Carved into a mountainside by Ramses II, these colossal temples were relocated in a remarkable UNESCO rescue project to save them from flooding.
The Abu Simbel Temples were commissioned by Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BCE to demonstrate his power and divine status. Carved directly into a mountainside near modern-day Sudan, the main temple façade features four colossal 20-metre statues of Ramses seated on his throne.
Inside, detailed reliefs depict military victories, including the Battle of Kadesh. Nearby stands a smaller temple dedicated to Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor — a rare honour for a royal consort.
In the 1960s, the entire complex was carefully dismantled and relocated to higher ground to save it from flooding caused by the Aswan High Dam — one of the greatest archaeological rescue projects in history.
c. 1264 BCE
Built
20 metres
Statue Height
1968
Relocated
UNESCO
World Heritage Site
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