Virtual Egypt: What Abu Simbel Looked Like

Summary

The script explores the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, a monumental Egyptian architectural feat by Pharaoh Ramesses II, located in Nubia. Carved from solid rock, it features colossal statues and an interior adorned with vibrant reliefs. The temple's unique design, including a hypostyle hall with anthropomorphic columns, leads to a sanctuary where deities are illuminated by sunlight twice a year. The script also recounts the temples' relocation to avoid submersion by the Aswan Dam and their colorful ancient appearance, highlighting their historical significance and the international effort to preserve them.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Great Temple of Abu-Simbel is a monumental achievement of Egyptian architecture, built by Ramesses II and located in Nubia, southern Egypt.
• 🗿 The temple features four colossal rock-cut statues of Ramesses II, each over 20 meters high, showcasing the grandeur of Egyptian art.
• 🌞 The temple's design incorporates a unique solar phenomenon where sunlight illuminates the sanctuary statues on October 21 and February 21.
• 🛡️ The interior of the temple includes vivid reliefs depicting Ramesses II's military campaigns and scenes of his divine nature.
• 🏺 Ramesses II also had a smaller temple constructed for his wife Nefertari, which similarly exhibits the region's characteristic architecture.
• 🎨 Both temples were originally brightly painted, a feature that has faded over time but adds to their historical significance.
• ⚙️ In the 1960s, an international effort was made to relocate the temples to save them from being submerged by the Aswan Dam's rising waters.
• 🔧 The temples were carefully dismantled and reassembled on artificial hills to preserve their structural integrity and solar alignment.
• 📸 The temples were rediscovered in the 19th century, having been buried under sand for millennia, with the first photograph taken in 1854.
• 👤 Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt and Italian explorer Giovanni Belzoni played pivotal roles in the rediscovery and exploration of Abu Simbel.

Q & A

Who built the Great Temple of Abu Simbel?

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel was built by Ramesses II.

What makes the Great Temple of Abu Simbel unique in Egyptian architecture?

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel is unique because it is one of the rare cave temples in Egypt, being entirely excavated out of the solid rock.

Where is the Great Temple of Abu Simbel located?

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel is located farther up the Nile, in the southernmost part of Egypt, in the region of Nubia.

What are the dimensions of the pylon at the Great Temple of Abu Simbel?

The pylon at the Great Temple of Abu Simbel measures 36 meters wide and 32 meters high.

How tall are the colossal statues of Ramesses II at the entrance of the temple?

The colossal statues of Ramesses II at the entrance of the temple are over 20 meters high.

Why are the statues in Egyptian architecture so huge compared to other ancient civilizations?

The statues in Egyptian architecture are huge because they were made in a scale for the gods, not in a human scale.

What does the interior of the temple feature after the entrance?

The interior of the temple features a vestibule supported by eight pillars, depicting the deified Ramesses linked to the god Osiris.

What are the battle scenes depicted on the walls of the temple?

The walls have vividly colored reliefs depicting military campaigns that Ramesses waged, including a famous relief showing Ramesses on his chariot shooting arrows against fleeing enemies.

What is the significance of the dates October 21 and February 21 in the temple of Ramesses II?

On October 21 and February 21, the sun penetrates directly into the heart of the temple, illuminating the portraits of Amun, Ramesses, and Ra, while leaving the portrait of Ptah in the shade.

What temple was constructed in honor of Ramesses II's wife Nefertari, and what is its relation to the main temple?

A smaller temple was constructed in honor of Nefertari, Ramesses II's wife. It is similar in design to the main temple, featuring a hypostyle hall with pillars depicting Hathor and scenes of the queen with Egyptian divinities.

What major engineering project in the 1960s threatened the temples of Abu Simbel?

The construction of the Aswan dam on the Nile in the 1960s threatened the temples of Abu Simbel due to the formation of a lake that could submerge the temples.

How were the temples of Abu Simbel preserved from being submerged by the lake formed by the Aswan dam?

An international campaign was launched to dismantle and relocate the temples stone by stone to two artificial mountains made of concrete, about 65 meters higher over the cliff, preserving the temples and the solar alignment effect.

Who discovered the temples of Abu Simbel, and when were they discovered?

The temples of Abu Simbel were discovered in 1813 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, and the interior was first entered by Italian explorer Giovanni Belzoni in 1817.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The Great Temple of Abu Simbel

The script introduces the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, a remarkable example of Egyptian architecture built by Ramesses II. Located in Nubia, it is unique for being a cave temple, a rarity in Egypt. The temple features an entrance forecourt leading to a massive pylon with four colossal statues of Ramesses II. The interior includes a vestibule supported by pillars and vividly colored reliefs depicting military campaigns. Smaller chambers and a hypostyle hall lead to the sanctuary, where Ramesses is depicted alongside gods. The temple is also known for its solar alignment, where sunlight illuminates the sanctuary's deities on specific dates. The script highlights the temple's scale, which is designed for the gods rather than humans, emphasizing the grandeur of Egyptian architecture.

05:03

🌞 Temple of Nefertari and the Aswan Dam Rescue

This paragraph discusses the smaller temple dedicated to Nefertari, Ramesses II's wife, which mirrors the architectural style of the main temple but with its own unique features, such as pillars depicting Hathor. The temple's interior includes scenes of the queen and Egyptian deities. The paragraph also delves into the history of the Abu Simbel temples, which were once colorful and polychrome but have since lost their pigments. A significant part of the history involves the threat posed by the Aswan Dam's construction in the 1960s, which led to an international effort to move the temples to avoid submersion. The temples were successfully relocated to artificial hills, preserving their alignment with the sun's rays. The script concludes with the discovery of Abu Simbel by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt and Giovanni Belzoni and invites viewers to explore more videos on Egypt.

10:04

📖 Further Exploration of Egypt's History

The final paragraph serves as a sign-off and a reminder to viewers that they can access a playlist of all Egypt-related videos. It provides a gentle nudge for viewers to engage with the content by liking the video and expresses gratitude for their attention. The script promises more content to come, indicating the ongoing journey of exploration and sharing of Egypt's rich history and culture.

Keywords

💡Ramesses II

Ramesses II was a pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Egypt and is considered one of the most powerful and celebrated pharaohs in ancient Egyptian history. In the video's context, he is the builder of the Great Temple of Abu-Simbel, showcasing his architectural legacy and his desire to immortalize his greatness. The script mentions his colossal statues, indicating his monumental presence in Egyptian art and culture.

💡Abu-Simbel

Abu-Simbel refers to the site of the Great Temple of Ramesses II, located in Nubia, southern Egypt. The video describes it as one of the most impressive examples of Egyptian architecture, carved out of solid rock, and featuring a unique cave temple design. The temples at Abu-Simbel are central to the video's theme, illustrating the grandeur and religious significance of ancient Egyptian temples.

💡Pylon

A pylon is a massive gate or tower-like structure that was traditionally the entrance to an ancient Egyptian temple. In the script, the pylon of the Abu-Simbel temple is described as an imposing façade, measuring 36 meters wide and 32 meters high, and is carved into the living rock of the cliff, demonstrating the engineering and artistic prowess of the time.

💡Colossal Statues

Colossal statues are large-scale representations of figures, often gods or rulers, and are a characteristic feature of ancient Egyptian temples. The script mentions four rock-cut seated colossal statues of Ramesses II over 20 meters high at the entrance of the Abu-Simbel temple, emphasizing the scale and grandeur of Egyptian architecture.

💡Nubia

Nubia is an ancient region in northeastern Africa, corresponding to present-day southern Egypt and northern Sudan. The script notes that cave temples, like those in Abu-Simbel, are more common in this region, indicating a regional architectural adaptation by Ramesses II to the local architectural style.

💡Hypostyle Hall

A hypostyle hall is a room with a roof supported by columns, a common feature in ancient Egyptian temples. The script describes the hypostyle hall in the Abu-Simbel temple, which has anthropomorphic columns adorned with human figures, showing the evolution of the hypostyle hall's design in this temple.

💡Solar Alignment

Solar alignment refers to the positioning of structures to align with the sun's path, creating specific lighting effects at certain times of the year. The script highlights the phenomenon at the Abu-Simbel temple where, on October 21 and February 21, sunlight penetrates directly into the sanctuary and illuminates the statues of Amun, Ramesses, and Ra, demonstrating the precision and astronomical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians.

💡Nefertari

Nefertari was the wife of Ramesses II and is honored with her own smaller temple at Abu-Simbel. The script describes Nefertari's temple as having similar architectural features to Ramesses II's temple, including a hypostyle hall and a sanctuary, reflecting the significance of her status and the pharaoh's affection.

💡Aswan Dam

The Aswan Dam is a large hydroelectric dam built on the Nile River in the 1960s. The script discusses the threat it posed to the temples of Abu-Simbel due to the formation of a lake that could have submerged the temples. This led to an international effort to relocate the temples to higher ground, preserving this significant cultural heritage.

💡Anthropomorphic

Anthropomorphic refers to the depiction of non-human entities, such as gods or objects, with human characteristics. In the script, the hypostyle hall's columns in the Abu-Simbel temple are described as anthropomorphic, ornamented with human figures, illustrating the artistic integration of human and divine elements in ancient Egyptian religious architecture.

💡Reliefs

Reliefs are sculptural techniques where the sculpted material is raised above the background plane. The script mentions vividly colored reliefs on the walls of the Abu-Simbel temple, depicting battle scenes and military campaigns of Ramesses II, providing visual narratives of historical events and the pharaoh's military prowess.

Highlights

The Great Temple of Abu-Simbel is one of the most impressive achievements of Egyptian architecture.

Located in Nubia, the temple was entirely excavated out of solid rock, a rare feature in Egyptian cave temples.

Ramesses II adapted to the local architecture of Nubia, which is characterized by cave temples.

The temple's façade features four colossal statues of Ramesses II, each over 20 meters high.

The interior spaces of the temple are unique, with processional spaces carved into the living rock.

The pylon at Abu Simbel retains the memory of traditional mud wall construction.

Egyptian architecture is characterized by its monumental scale, designed for the gods rather than humans.

The temple's vestibule is supported by eight pillars depicting the deified Ramesses linked to Osiris.

Vividly colored reliefs on the temple walls depict Ramesses' military campaigns.

Abu Simbel's hypostyle hall features anthropomorphic columns, a unique transformation of the traditional design.

The temple's sanctuary houses a sacred boat and Ramesses seated among divinities.

A unique solar phenomenon illuminates the sanctuary's statues of Amun, Ramesses, and Ra twice a year.

A second temple was constructed in honor of Ramesses II's wife Nefertari, with similar architectural features.

Nefertari's temple interior features pillars depicting Hathor, the goddess of femininity and maternal care.

The temples of Abu Simbel were originally polychrome, with vibrant colors that have since faded.

The temples were relocated in the 1960s to avoid submersion due to the construction of the Aswan Dam.

An international campaign was launched to dismantle and reassemble the temples on higher ground.

The relocation preserved the temples' solar alignment, maintaining the annual illumination of the gods' statues.

Abu Simbel was discovered in 1813 by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt and first entered in 1817 by Giovanni Belzoni.

Transcripts

The temple of Ramesses II,  so let's go take a look.

The Great Temple of Abu-Simbel,  built by Ramesses II,

is one of the most stupendous  creations of Egyptian architecture,

this is farther up the Nile, farther into Nubia

in the southernmost of Egypt,

and this temple was entirely  excavated out of the solid rock.

Cave temples are very rare in Egypt,

temples were usually built structures,

but just in this area of Nubia  they tend to be more common.

So here Ramesses is adapting to the  typical architecture of the region.

An entrance forecourt leads to the  imposing façade formed as a pylon,

measuring 36 meters wide and 32 meters high,

immediately in front of which are four rock-cut  seated colossal statues of Ramesses II,  

over 20 meters high.

The processional spaces that we had leading up to  

the sanctuary in the other Egyptian  temples are all interiorized here.

The pylon itself becomes a carving into the  living rock of the cliff, it's incredible.

So you look at the pylon, or the entry  piece carved into the rock of Abu Simbel,

and you look at a typologically normative pylon,

and you can see that the memory  of this pylon which carries the  

memory of the mud wall is preserved and used here.

And just look at the scale of the statues,

the reason why Egyptian architecture is so huge  

when compared to other ancient  civilizations like Greece,

is that the Egyptians made their buildings not  in a human scale, but in a scale for the gods.

We're here at the entrance of Abu Simbel temple,  

and you can see right away how colossal is  the size of the statues in the entrance.

The entrance leads to a vestibule, the  ceiling of which is supported by eight pillars

depicting the deified Ramesses  linked to the god Osiris.

We're in the entrance hall  of the temple of Abu Simbel.

The walls have vividly colored reliefs depicting  

battle scenes in the military  campaigns that Ramesses waged.

The most famous relief shows Ramesses  himself on his chariot shooting arrows  

against his fleeing enemies,  who are being taken prisoner.

There are eight smaller chambers in the sides,

these were probably used to store  the temple utensils and furniture,

adjoin this vestibule, and in the rear is a  small hypostyle hall, having four pillars.

Behind this, is a long narrow chamber  out of which are three apartments,  

the center one being the sanctuary.

So these are the same kind of spaces  we were seeing in the mortuary temples.

The idea of hypostyle hall though, is transformed  in that the columns are anthropomorphic, that is,

they're ornamented with human  figures that are engaged,

so we have this avenue of humanoids, and then we  proceed through a telescoping sense of spaces,

with lower ceilings and smaller rooms,  getting you deeper and deeper into the temple.

It’s been said that Ramses was a man obsessed  with transmitting his own greatness to the world,

and of course we cannot deny that he was a  pharaoh with a special taste for scenery.

And so in this temple of Abu Simbel  that is excavated in the mountain,  

an incredibly curious phenomenon occurs:

in the sanctuary of this temple, there’s  an altar that supported a sacred boat,

and Ramesses himself seated among the  divinities as if he were another god.

But the most curious thing is that two  days a year, on October 21 and February 21,

two months before and two months  after the winter solstice,

the sun penetrates directly into the  heart of the temple of Ramesses II,

and the portraits of Amun, Ramesses,  and Ra are illuminated by the sunlight,

leaving in the shade the portrait of  Ptah, a dark god, a god of the shadows,  

a god that has more of a subterranean connotation.

Ramesses also ordered the construction of another  

temple that was bit smaller in  honor of his wife Nefertari,

this one is still imitating that characteristic  form of the pylons in the carved façade,  

and also has colossal statues.

Now we're going to enter to  Nefertari's temple, Ramesses' wife.

The interior is very similar to the  interior of the temple of Ramesses in that,

even though smaller, it has  the same spaces in common,

a hypostyle hall with pillars,  this time depicting Hathor,  

the Egyptian goddess of  femininity and maternal care,

who is often represented as a cow,  

but in these capitals she's represented  as a woman with the ears of a cow.

This hypostyle hall also contains  several images and inscriptions,

this time with scenes of the queen  and some Egyptian divinities.

There's also several small chambers for storage,

and a sanctuary in the back with a sacred statue.

These temples in Abu Simbel, which today are  one of the best-known Egyptian attractions,

in ancient times presented a very different aspect  to that with which we contemplate them today,

as you can see the temples were  completely painted, completely polychrome,

and stood out so much more than today, because of  the white and the other colors it used to have.

These Aswan temples have a  very interesting history:

they survived and they were very well preserved  even though they had lost their colors,  

and one of the statues had broken.

But they were severely threatened  by the lake that you see here.

This lake did not reach  quite up to here back then,

and this temples used to be located about  200m that way, 65m lower into the cliff,

but one of the big engineering  projects in the 1960s

was the building of the  spectacular Aswan dam on the Nile,

the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari  at Abu Simbel got threatened,

because the territory around here has got  the lake formed by the making of this dam.

This is an image from the 1960s, the  dam had been built for a couple years,

and the water did not stop rising,

and it had already risen so much

that it was about to reach the feet of  the colossi of the temple of Ramses,

and what’s worse, the water  was beginning to infiltrate

between the stones of the  temple weakening its structure.

At that time, a spectacular  international campaign was launched

to dismantle stone by stone  all the temples despite the  

difficulty of being excavated in the mountain,

which reveals that the inner  walls of the mountain itself

had to be excavated and moved to another location  

that had to be close but secure enough to  guarantee the preservation of the two temples.

Two small artificial mountains made of  concrete, about 65 meters higher over the cliff

were built to fit the disassembled temples,

and here you can see the actual location  of the temples below the water level today,

Hadn't the temples been moved, today they would  be submerged several meters under the water,

and here above is the current  location of the two constructions.

Also, by repositioning the  temples on these artificial hills,  

the effect of the solar alignment

that made the sun illuminate the statues of  three of the gods twice a year was respected.

Here I’ll share with you a panoramic  photograph that I took on site,

You can see the two artificial mountains  with the temple of Nefertari to the right,  

and the temple of Ramesses to the left.

When these temples were  discovered in the 19th century,

they were all covered with sand  accumulated throughout thousands of years.

And it took about a century to remove it all.

This is the first photo ever  taken in Abu Simbel in 1854.

Abu Simbel was discovered in 1813 by the  same man who discovered Petra a year before,

Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

And it was Giovanni Belzoni,  

the Italian who discovered the  interior of the pyramid of Chephren,

the first one who succeeded to enter the  temple by digging enough sand in 1817.

Thank you for watching, if you enjoyed the video  please leave a like because it helps me a lot.

Also remember that you can watch all of  my videos from Egypt in this playlist.

Thank you again, and I'll see you very soon.

Goodbye!