 |
 |
Why Abu Simbel is special
Abu Simbel is famous for its four imposing statues of the seated
Pharaoh Rameses. Those sculptures guard his temple's entrance.
They and the temple behind them were originally carved out of
the same sandstone cliff, over three millennia ago.
Taller than photos suggest
Each of the seated Abu Simbel statues is as high as a five-story
building. For scale, notice the statues standing between the
pharaoh's legs -- they are life size.
Why Abu Simbel was built
Pharaoh Rameses II wanted to impress his Egyptian subjects of
his grandeur -- and to set fear in the hearts of his formidable
Nubian enemies who threatened Egypt's southern border.
The other Abu Simbel temple
The nearby temple of the wife of RamesesII is also a part of the
Abu Simbel complex -- and an archeological must-visit.
The saving of Abu Simbel
The construction of Egypt's vast Aswan High Dam across the Nile
River in the 1960s guaranteed that the Abu Simbel wonder would
be submerged -- thereby lost to future scholars and tourists --
unless it were moved to higher ground. This would require
cutting Abu Simbel into large blocks and reassembling them on
top of the cliff, safely above the rising waters. This
remarkable engineering feat was accomplished by a joint Egyptian
and international effort, finishing in the nick of time.
Interesting tidbits
about Abu Simbel
It took several decades for the ancients to build Abu Simbel.
Most temples of antiquity are eventually physically altered,
defiled or destroyed. This was not the fate of Abu Simbel
because encroaching sands soon buried its lower half. It lay
forgotten for millennia. Abu Simbel wasn't rediscovered and
exposed until about 200 years ago.
Originally, the backdrop of Abu Simbel was the cliff it was
carved out of. Problem: The relocated temple would be on top of
the cliff, which had no backdrop. Solution: Construct an
artificial mountain behind the relocated temple's facade.
The second from the left Pharaoh statute was severely damaged by
an ancient earthquake. The shattered fallen head and torso lie
at the statue's feet (see photo).
Abu Simbel's innermost room lies at the end of a long corridor
straight back from the temple's entrance. Once only the Pharaoh
and high priests could go inside this ultra holy sanctuary. Now
you can, too.
Twice a year a shaft of light from the rising sun mystically
illuminates the deity statues inside the innermost room. This
occurs during the spring and fall equinoxes (late February and
October).
Rameses II - who commissioned Abu Simbel - is considered the
greatest Pharaoh ever. He reigned for a long time - 67 years
(1279 to 1213 BC).
His 3200 year old mummy is dramatically displayed (head
and hand are unwrapped) in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
<<
بازگشت >> |
|
|
|
|
|
|
