UNESCO Archives Film Collection: "The World Saves Abu Simbel", 29', 1972.

Summary

The script narrates the historical and architectural significance of the Abu Simbel temples, carved in the 13th century BC by Pharaoh Ramesses II. It details the temples' rediscovery in 1813, their astronomical alignment, and the intricate reliefs depicting Ramesses' military triumphs. The script also documents the temples' relocation in the 1960s to save them from the Aswan High Dam's flooding, showcasing an international effort led by UNESCO. The temples' reconstruction and the preservation of their cultural heritage symbolize a global commitment to safeguarding history while advancing technologically.

Takeaways

• 🗿 The rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel were rediscovered in 1813 by Swiss explorer Jean-Louis Burckhardt and are located near the Sudanese border on the Nile's bank.
• 🏰 The smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor, while the larger one is dedicated to Pharaoh Ramesses II and his wife Nefertari.
• 🗽 The temples were carved around 1260 BCE by Ramesses II during Egypt's Golden Age and showcase his grandeur and military victories.
• 🌞 The Great Temple of Abu Simbel was designed to align with the sun's rays twice a year, illuminating the inner sanctuary and three gods, except for the god of the underworld.
• ⛓ The construction of the Aswan High Dam threatened the temples, leading to a UNESCO-led international effort to save them, involving over 50 countries.
• 🔨 The temples were dismantled into blocks weighing 20-30 tons each, then moved to a site 200 feet higher to protect them from flooding.
• 🏗️ The relocation process was complex, involving the construction of a cofferdam, sandbagging the facade, and shoring the interior with steel scaffolding.
• 🚜 The temples' blocks were transported without jolting, ensuring their integrity, and were stored in a manner akin to organizing books in a library.
• 🌄 The temples were reassembled with precision, and the landscape around them was reconstructed to match the original, showcasing the skill of modern technology.
• 🌐 The project represents a successful example of international cooperation to preserve cultural heritage and balance it with modern development.

Q & A

When were the rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel discovered again after being buried for centuries?

The rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel were rediscovered in 1813.

Who is the smaller temple at Abu Simbel dedicated to?

The smaller temple at Abu Simbel is dedicated to the goddess Hathor.

What significant event is depicted on the facade of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel?

The facade of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel is adorned with figures portraying Pharaoh Ramesses II and his wife Nefertari, symbolizing the greatness of the Pharaoh.

Why were the temples at Abu Simbel carved out of rock during the reign of Ramesses II?

The temples were carved out of rock around 1260 BCE to demonstrate the power and grandeur of Pharaoh Ramesses II during Egypt's Golden Age.

What is the unique astronomical feature of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel?

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel was designed so that twice a year, in February and October, sunlight penetrates the temple's inner sanctuary to illuminate the statues of three gods, demonstrating the ancient Egyptians' knowledge of astronomy.

Why was it necessary to relocate the temples of Abu Simbel?

The temples needed to be relocated due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, which would have flooded the area where the temples were located.

How did UNESCO and the international community respond to the threat of the monuments of Nubia being destroyed?

UNESCO launched an international campaign to save the heritage of Nubia, with more than 50 countries agreeing to share the financial burden of relocating the monuments.

What was the method used to protect the temples during the construction of the Aswan High Dam?

A cofferdam was constructed to protect the temples from flooding while the temples were being dismantled and relocated.

What were the challenges faced during the relocation of the Abu Simbel temples?

The relocation faced challenges such as the remoteness of the site, harsh climate, and the need for precise dismantling and reassembly of the temples to preserve their integrity.

How were the statues and reliefs of the temples protected during the relocation process?

The statues and reliefs were covered with fine sand to protect them from falling stones, and steel scaffolding was used to shore up the interior of the temples during the relocation.

What was the final outcome of the Abu Simbel temples relocation project?

The temples were successfully relocated to a site 200 feet above their original location, and the landscape was restored, preserving the ancient monuments for future generations.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Discovery and Significance of Abu Simbel Temples

The script begins with a historical account of the discovery of the rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel in 1813 by the Orientalist, Your Hunt. These temples, dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Pharaoh Ramesses II, were carved in the 19th dynasty during Egypt's Golden Age. The temples' facades feature colossal statues of Ramesses II, symbolizing his greatness and the respect he commanded. The script also describes the temples' unique astronomical alignment, where sunlight illuminates the inner sanctum on specific days, showcasing the ancient Egyptians' architectural and astronomical prowess.

05:16

🌱 The Challenge of Preserving Abu Simbel Temples

The second paragraph discusses the challenges faced in preserving the Abu Simbel temples due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The dam's reservoir threatened to submerge the temples, prompting an international effort led by UNESCO to save this heritage. The script outlines the complex process of dismantling the temples, protecting them with sand, and relocating them to a higher location. It also highlights the logistical difficulties, such as the remote site's inaccessibility and the need for international cooperation to fund and execute the rescue operation.

10:16

🔨 The Detailed Process of Dismantling and Relocating the Temples

This paragraph delves into the intricate process of dismantling the temples. It describes the use of steel scaffolding, the careful removal of rock surrounding the temples, and the precise cutting of the rock into blocks. The script emphasizes the meticulous work required to ensure the temples' safe relocation, including the use of synthetic resin to strengthen the rock and the construction of a cofferdam to protect the temples from flooding. The paragraph also details the transportation and storage of the dismantled temple blocks, highlighting the precision and care taken to preserve the monuments.

15:20

🏗️ Reassembly and Restoration of the Abu Simbel Temples

The fourth paragraph focuses on the reassembly of the Abu Simbel temples at their new location. It describes the construction of a new rocky landscape to support the temples and the precise reassembly of the stone blocks to recreate the original structure. The script also discusses the use of steel shoring sections to reinforce the temples' interior and the careful handling of the stone blocks to avoid damage during the reassembly process. The paragraph concludes with the successful relocation of the temples, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

20:21

🌅 The Final Stages of Reconstruction and the Legacy of Abu Simbel

The final paragraph discusses the final stages of the reconstruction project, including the reassembly of the 22-meter high statues and the restoration of the temple's facade. It highlights the engineering and architectural achievements in relocating the stone temple and the creation of a unique rocky landscape around it. The script concludes by emphasizing the global cooperation and determination to preserve cultural heritage, as exemplified by the Abu Simbel project, and the temples' significance as a testament to both ancient civilization and modern technological prowess.

Keywords

💡Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel refers to a pair of rock-cut temples at Abu Simbel in Nubia, southern Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser. The temples are one of the most famous monuments in Egypt, and were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC. In the video, the temples are central to the narrative as they are the main historical artifacts being preserved and relocated due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

💡Nubian Desert

The Nubian Desert is a region in northeastern Africa that extends from southern Egypt to northern Sudan. It is characterized by its arid climate and rocky terrain. In the video, the temples of Abu Simbel are described as being located at the edge of this desert, emphasizing the remote and harsh environment in which they were originally situated.

💡Pharaoh Ramesses II

Pharaoh Ramesses II was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 19th dynasty who reigned for 67 years and is often regarded as one of Egypt's greatest and most powerful pharaohs. In the video, he is noted for commissioning the construction of the temples at Abu Simbel, which are adorned with his statues and reliefs, showcasing his grandeur and the artistic skill of the time.

💡Astronomical Knowledge

Astronomical knowledge refers to the understanding of celestial objects and their movements. The video highlights the ancient Egyptians' advanced astronomical knowledge through the design of the Abu Simbel temples, where sunlight dramatically illuminates the inner sanctuary twice a year during specific dates, demonstrating a sophisticated architectural feat.

💡Aswan High Dam

The Aswan High Dam is a large hydroelectric dam located in Aswan, Egypt. Constructed in the 1960s, it created Lake Nasser, which led to the flooding of the area around Abu Simbel. The video discusses the dam as the catalyst for the relocation of the temples to save them from being submerged under the reservoir's waters.

💡UNESCO

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is a specialized agency of the United Nations that aims to promote international collaboration in education, science, and culture. In the video, UNESCO is mentioned as leading an international campaign to save the monuments of Nubia, including the Abu Simbel temples, by rallying support and financial assistance from over 50 countries.

💡Relocation

Relocation in this context refers to the process of moving the Abu Simbel temples to a new location to preserve them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The video details the complex engineering and construction efforts involved in dismantling the temples, moving them to a higher location, and reassembling them to ensure their survival.

💡Cofferdam

A cofferdam is a temporary structure built within water to allow for the construction of projects like dams or bridges. In the video, a cofferdam is constructed around the Abu Simbel temples to protect them from flooding during the relocation process, showcasing the innovative engineering solutions employed to save the monuments.

💡Architectural Feat

An architectural feat refers to an impressive or complex construction achievement. The video describes the temples of Abu Simbel as an architectural feat due to their grand scale, intricate design, and the precision with which they were carved out of the rock face, reflecting the high level of skill and artistry of the ancient Egyptians.

💡International Cooperation

International cooperation in the video refers to the collaborative efforts of multiple countries to fund and support the relocation of the Abu Simbel temples. This cooperation is highlighted as a testament to the global commitment to preserving cultural heritage and the ability of nations to unite for the common goal of protecting historical treasures.

Highlights

The rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel were rediscovered in 1813 by the Orientalist, Your hundred feet brought hunt.

The temples are located on the bank of the Nile near the Sudanese frontier.

The smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and features over thirty feet high statues of Pharaoh Ramesses II and his wife Nefertari.

The temples were carved out of the rock around 1260 BCE by King Ramesses II of the 19th dynasty during Egypt's Golden Age.

Ramesses II is portrayed four times in front of the Great Temple, each colossal figure over 70 feet high.

Reliefs on the outside walls depict the life of man three thousand years ago and the union of Upper and Lower Egypt.

The temple facade has symbolic statues representing the might of Ramesses II and the respect he commanded among his enemies.

Inscriptions on the temples relate the military exploits of Ramesses II's reign.

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel was designed to make dramatic use of sunlight, with a biannual illumination of the inner sanctuary.

The temples were threatened by the construction of the Aswan High Dam, leading to an international campaign to save them.

UNESCO launched a campaign to save the heritage of Nubia, with over 50 countries contributing to the financial burden.

The plan to save the temples involved constructing a cofferdam, shoring the interior, and dismantling the temples into blocks for relocation.

The Abu Simbel project was a difficult assignment due to the climate and remoteness of the site.

The temples were dismantled and reassembled on a site 200 feet above the original location.

The relocation of the temples was a race against time and the rising waters of the Nile.

The final phase of reconstructing the 22-meter high statues was a significant engineering achievement.

The temples now bear witness to the Supreme genius of an ancient civilization and the miraculous skill of modern technology.

The project also involved the reconstruction of a unique rocky landscape around the temple according to the original.

The temples of Abu Simbel now stand as a testament to international cooperation in preserving cultural heritage.

Transcripts

[Music]

for many centuries the rock-cut temples

of Abu Simbel lay abandoned at the edge

of the Nubian desert a great temple long

buried beneath the sand was not

discovered again until the 1813 by the

Smiths Orientalist

your hundred feet brought hunt

the temples are located on the bank of

the Nile not far from the Sudanese

frontier the smaller one is dedicated to

the goddess Fatah and it's facade is

adorned with figures over thirty feet

high portraying the pharaoh ramses ii

and his wife nepeta

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

temples were carved out of the rock in

about 1260 before Christ by this famous

king of the 19th dynasty in the latter

period of Egypt's long Golden Age

ramasees is also portrayed four times in

front of the Great Temple each of these

colossal figures is over 70 feet high

members of the royal family are dwarfed

by the giant image of therapy

[Music]

the reliefs on the outside walls show us

something of the life of man three

thousand years ago two deities of the

Nile unite the lily and the papyrus to

symbolize the union of the kingdoms of

Upper and Lower Egypt

[Music]

apart from the figures of Ramsey's wife

Nefertari and her favorite children the

temple facade has symbolic statues which

represent the monix greatness and the

respect he commanded among his enemies

[Music]

the inscriptions relate the exploits of

his reign

[Music]

long rows of tethered Nubians on both

sides of the entrance portal reveal the

success of military campaigns the Great

Temple of Abu Simbel was designed to

make dramatic use of sunlight a supreme

example of the astronomical knowledge of

the ancient Egyptians and of the skill

of their architects twice a year in

February and October the sun's rays

shining through the narrow entrance way

of the temple through the giant pillared

Hall 60 feet deep penetrate to the inner

sanctuary which at other times is in

darkness the images of three gods Amon

raha Ricci and the Pharaoh himself are

illuminated only the fourth day attempt

our god of the underworld remains in the

shadows

the figures in the pillared hall each of

them 25 feet high also portray Pharaoh

but with the attributes of the god

Osiris colored wall reliefs glorify the

Kings deeds in the air 1285 BC in Syria

Rama C is the second proved himself a

great warrior by conquering the Hittites

would invade it as well these

representations of the power and glory

of the great Pharaoh bear witness to

gain comfortable artistic skill today

[Music]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

after conquering his enemies

ramasees ii is seen on other reliefs as

a wise ruler receiving the thanks of his

subjects issuing decrees and paying due

tribute in the form of sacrifices and

act the veneration to the gods to whom

he dedicated the temple

[Music]

today more than 3000 years later the

descendants of Pharaoh are confronted

with problems which he would have had

difficulty in understanding the area in

which this rapidly growing people can

live and grow its food is limited to the

narrow strip of fertile land on either

bank of the Nile Egypt's famous granary

has now become too small the

construction of the study Ali dam meets

a vital need of the people of the United

Arab Republic an enormous reservoir the

waters of the Nile will extend far south

into the Sudan it were they possible to

irrigate much more land and greatly

increase agricultural production the

vast new supply of electric power will

help new industries to grow of course

the building of the dam has had its

drawbacks hundreds of thousands of

people had to be resettled irreplaceable

monuments of the Golden Age of Nubia

would have been destroyed if something

had not been done at the last moment to

salvage them the threat to the monuments

of Nubia alarmed the world the United

Arab Republic appeal to UNESCO for help

UNESCO launched an international

campaign to save this heritage of the

past and more than 50 countries agreed

to share the financial burden a race

against time and the rising waters began

many ways of rescuing the Abu Simbel

temples were suggested the plan

ultimately agreed upon is this

construction of a cofferdam to protect

the temples from flooding while building

work is in progress the facade

to be banked up with sand to protect the

statues of Rama says

shoring of the interior of the temple

with steel scaffolding the removal of

the rock surrounding the temple until a

wall thickness of two and a half feet is

reached dismantling the temples in

blocks of 20 to 30 tons and removal to a

safe storage area reassembly of the

temples on a site 200 feet above the

original location restoration of the

landscape

in November 1963 the joint venture Abu

Simbel an international group of

building contractors from five countries

received the contract for the removal of

the temples the Abu Simbel project has

been a difficult assignment the climate

and especially the remoteness of the

site have made things more difficult

aswan the nearest town is a hundred and

seventy-five miles downstream

[Music]

there are no roads along which building

materials machines and food supplies can

be transported consignment from Europe

take five months to arrive from Cairo

one must count on a month or two

[Music]

yet there is no time to lose

even before living quarters can be set

up for the crews work has to start on

the construction of the copper day first

of all a steel piling wall is erected

the crest of the cofferdam must be 80

feet above the riverbed

[Music]

in a beginning of november 1964 a

critical stage was reached in the race

against time and water because of heavy

rain in ethiopia the river rose to a

level about six and a half feet below

the crest of the dam work was already in

full swing on either side of the company

before dismantling of the rock figures

to begin the statues as well as the

entire facade had to be covered with

fine sand as a protection against

falling stone at the more sensitive

spots it is applied by hand

[Music]

excavation work when special machines

start from the top on the rock cut off

that had been prepared

a guard over the facade prevents large

rock fragments from striking the layer

of sand the rock material removed from

above the temples is used for the

construction of the dam at the end of

February 1965 the bulkhead is completed

and the facade of the temple is once

again concealed beneath the sound as it

was before its discovery the inside can

now be reached only through a steel pipe

[Music]

the reinforcement of the interior is now

almost complete 240 tons and steel

sections were needed for the shore

[Music]

so as not to damage the honour mentation

on the walls and ceilings the steel

supports are padded with felt mats and

plastic foil

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

all steel supports are numbered for

reassembly of the temples in the same

sequence the really critical work starts

with the removal of the rock above the

temple

at first the rock is attacked with stone

soaring strands and giant blocks a

cutter

[Music]

Jib stars are brought into use for the

minute the song this is only a kind of

dress rehearsal so long as they're

cutting only the wall of rock around the

temple fine precision is not yet

required and they can work with broader

cuts at the sides the rock is broken off

piece by piece

[Music]

pneumatic drills can be used only on the

outer sector

the vibrations are constantly measured

inside the temperature more and more of

the rock material over the temples is

removed to dellux are already waiting to

take away the sauna blocks to cavities

in the massive rock face show when the

temples are located now comes the most

difficult part of the work the finest

cuts on the surfaces can be made only by

hand the rock is so brittle that contact

with water would make it crumble each

individual block must be carefully

marked so that it can easily be assigned

its right position when the monument is

reacted at a 1047 temple blocks and 7700

blocks of other rock with an average

weight of between 20 and 30 tansy

for the safe transport of the heavy

blocks special truss rods had to be made

the drill holes which accommodate the

anchor trusses are filled with synthetic

resin to withstand any strain possible

during transport

the largest and heaviest clocks were

those from the heads of Pharaoh statutes

here the engineers wanted to make as few

cuts as possible

the fostering starts the cutting

services are protected with plastic foil

[Music]

[Music]

when the phases of the figures were cut

work had to proceed continuously day and

night if there'd been any interruption

in the soaring the staff trot

interspersed with hard scenes might have

crumbled due to changes in tension

[Music]

[Music]

[Applause]

and this is the moment the journalists

and press photographers have waited for

all night

[Music]

[Music]

King ramasees gives one last majestic

looked at the bear Passau before the

special low load transport vehicle

carries him to the storage place

[Music]

the two storage sites are located on a

plateau near the spot where the temples

are to be redirected

[Music]

the position and number of each block is

registered just as if it were a book in

a library

[Laughter]

from his temporary resting place the

great Pharaoh can look out on the wrong

roofs of the houses note for a thousand

workers

[Music]

he may even cast a longing gaze over the

swimming pool whose waters must seem

like a mirage in the desert

[Music]

the Nile has now risen above the base of

the original site but the cofferdam has

stood the test the monuments are being

saved in time as the days pass the hand

sawing the blocks and their removal to

the storage site becomes routine each

block is transported without jolting

maintained in its original position this

ensures against breakage as a result of

a sudden change in stress the work

advances father and father into the

interior at the temple every day new

artistic masterpieces are brought for

the first time into born Dana

[Music]

the divine Pharaoh seems somewhat

fearful as he looks out on his new

technological age an age which saves him

from crumbling with the help of

injections of synthetic resin

[Music]

the supporting gutters are dismantled by

means are very fine cuts here work is

done with extreme care these services

which have been exposed to the elements

are particularly brittle now even if the

water were 1200 the cofferdam ahead of

schedule the most it could do would be

to cover the leg stumps affair

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

the last of the wall reliefs is ready

for transport by coincidence it bears

the motto under which the salvage

project is being carried out the union

of the upper and lower Nile as the

symbol of wealth and fertility

while the dismantling web proceeds

preparations for reaction are made on

the platter large-scale leveling

operations have been completed the axis

has been precisely calculated to produce

the same biannual miracle of sunlight a

reconstruction of the temple interior

can begin the same steel shoring

sections which serve for dismantling are

used

[Music]

the reassembly of the sections of the

first facade reveals the precision in

which the temple had been dismantled

the powerful blocks are easily put

together the original site has now been

completely abandoned the Nile covers it

at last

[Music]

but in their new location the monuments

come to life again and each block is

restored to its rightful place in chat

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

the final phase of reconstructing the 22

meter high statues begins

[Music]

Ferro lives again an exciting moment now

comes the final gist when of the statues

will look the same as the fault

[Applause]

a great engineering achievement of

relocating the stone temple is not the

end of the work however a unique rocky

landscape around the temple must also be

reconstructed according to the original

a 12,000 square meter area it must be

real and scaped

cement domes are first constructed above

the temple locations for placing the

stones the dome above the large temple

has a spread of over 60 metres the

individual cement segments are 1.8

metres thick at the apex and two point

three meters at the base some 10,000

cubic meters of cement are involved in

this giant construction the height of

the cover above the apex is more than 10

meters and will have to support more

than 20 tons of stone per square meter

the entire stone covering of the surface

is estimated to be 350 thousand cubic

meters

[Music]

the dome above the small temple as a

spread of 25 meters requiring more than

3,000 cubic meters of concrete

the last of the blocks comprising the

facade of the smaller temple are set in

place more than 7,700 stone blocks must

be rearranged between the temples

now the finishing touches restoration

work on the larger temple is necessary

the facade is made crack and

weatherproof it must withstand many more

centuries

[Music]

when the seams have been closed it will

no longer be evident that the temple was

once sawed into individual blocks

thus the temples of Abu Simbel when

again reached the Rising Sun they will

bear witness bus to the Supreme genius

of an ancient civilization and to the

miraculous skill of modern technology

they will also bear witness to the

determination of the world as a whole to

preserve the best of the past while

building the future and to apply

International Cooperation for the

achievement of these great purposes

[Music]