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.